Just days before the district playoffs begin, Polk powers George Jenkins and Winter Haven collided at Jim Whitley Field. The Blue Devils of Winter Haven (20-5) defended its home, topping the Eagles of George Jenkins (17-7) with a score of 3-2.
For the Blue Devils, junior Hunter Morales was involved in all of the runs for Winter Haven going two for three with a double, a single and two runs.
Morales doubled in the first inning advancing junior Kobie Leonard to third. Leonard would then score one batter later on a sacrifice fly provided by junior Zed Burnham. Morales would later score on an Eagles defensive error to bring in the second run in the first.
Morales’ single in the bottom of the third inning would eventually lead to an RBI single for junior left fielder Christian Rivera.
The Winter Haven pitching staff was led by senior star catcher Zach Jackson, who made his first pitching appearance in two years. The Blue Devils held the Eagles to just three hits. Junior Dawson Young (2-3) got the save.
For George Jenkins, University of Florida Commit Jacob Herbert connected with a 2-seam fastball for a 2-run home run in the second inning. Herbert later added a single in the fifth inning. Junior third baseman Austin Blair added the other hit with a single in the fourth inning.
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