Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

The Falcons took the 1st step in earning a bye for the District Tournament by pounding the Lightning 9-4 tonight at Cypress Bay HS. Flanagan knocked around 19 hits in the District 12-6A game which all but wrapped up second place. Cypress Bay was in trouble from the outset as the Falcons plated 3 runs in the 1st inning. Jesse Mesa singled and Rolando Gomez followed with a double setting up a 2 RBI double by Nick Navarro. Chris Connelly drove in Zach Jackson who was the courtesy runner for Navarro. The Falcons scored 3 more runs in the 3rd and 2 in the 6th innings extending the lead to 8-0. RJ Fondon(7-0) pitched 6 1/3 innings allowed 4 runs(1 earned) and struck out 9 in the win. Pichi Torres faced 1 batter and induced a groundout doubleplay to end the game. Rolando Gomez finished the night 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored, Nick Navarro, Jesse Mesa, Luis Penate, Joel Carranza, DJ Swatscheno, Mitch Massard and TJ Foard all had 2 hits in the game. The Falcons host McArthur on Friday night at 6:30 in the final game of the regular season District schedule. Records: Flanagan(13-3,6-1) Cypress Bay(12-3,5-2)

Flanagan jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the 4th inning only to see Taravella creep back in to tie the game and send it into extra innings. The Falcons scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning on a double by TJ Foard and an RBI triple by Jesse Mesa. Rolando Gomez followed with an RBI single. In the 4th inning Flanagan scored 3 runs on an RBI double by Joel Carranza and a 2 run home run by Chris Connelly, his 2nd of the season. Taravella would even the score with 3 runs in the 4th and a 2 run homer by Carlo Galluccio in the 5th inning. The Falcons regained the lead int he top of the 8th inning when Nick Navarro led off with his 4th home run of the season. Flanagan added an insurance run on an RBI single by TJ Foard which turned out to be the game winner as Taravella mounted another come back by scoring 1 run and loading the bases in the bottom of the inning but Rudy Miret(3-0) who came on in relief of starter David Thomas in the 6th inning earned the win by pitching 3 strong innings allowing just 1 run on 2 hits and striking out 4 including the side in the 8th. Flanagan will play it's District Rival Cypress Bay on Wednesday night at 6:30. The game will be at Cypress Bay. Records: Flanagan(12-3) Taravella(11-4)

The Falcons JV started the day with a doubleheader sweep of Taravella at home winning 10-0 and 16-3. In game 1 sophomore lefthander Mark Peterson earned the win pitching a complete game, 2 hit shutout. He struck out 4 and walked 1 to improve to 6-0 on the season. Offensively Flanagan was led by Mike Carballo, Ryan Smith and Collin Martindale. All three players had 2 hits each. Carballo scored 3 runs while Pichi Torres and Martindale crossed the plate twice. In game 2 The Falcons(13-1) came back from a 3-0 deficit in the 1st inning to gain the convincing 16-3 win. Starting pitcher Kyle Pagnotta settled in after the 1st inning. The freshman righthander allowed 3 runs on 5 hits before giving way to Diego Delgado in the 4th inning. With Flanagan leading 4-3, Taravella would load the bases with no outs in the top of the 4th. The threat was quickly squashed as Delgado struck out the 1st batter he faced and then induced an inning ending double play. The Falcons would make sure that was the final chance for the Trojans as they scored 12 runs in the bottom of the inning sealing the win. Once again the offense was led by Mike Carballo and Collin Martindale. Both players had 2 hits in the game with Carballo launching his 3rd HR and 2nd Grand Slam of the season. He was 2 for 3 with a walk, 3 runs scored and 5 RBI Martindale was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and Kevin Lederman went 2 for 3 with an RBI. The Falcons JV will play their final game of the season on Wednesday March 28th when they travel to Cypress Bay. The game will be at 3:45 with the Varsity game immediately following. The Varsity game which was a make-up from Friday was played at 5:30 tonight at Western. Flanagan quickly jumped out to a 9-0 lead after 2 innings and never looked back beating the Wildcats convincingly 22-2. Starter RJ Fondon improved to 6-0 pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 runs on 7 hits with 7 strike outs. Joel Carranza continued his torrid hitting going 4 for 5 with a HR(4), 2 RBI and 4 runs scored. DJ Swatscheno added 3 hits, 2 runs and 4 RBI. Rolando Gomez and Nick Navarro also hit home runs as the Falcons pounded out 19 hits on the evening. Navarro went 1 for 2 with his 3rd HR a 3 run shot to centerfield in the 2nd inning. Gomez added his State leading 7th home run, a 3 run blast in the 6th inning. He finished 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBI. The Falcons travel to Taravella on Monday for a 6:30 game against the Trojans. Team Records: Flanagan(11-3,5-1) Western(9-3,3-2)

Sophomore pitcher David Thomas went through a stretch of tough outings before turning in a masterful performance tonight at home against South Plantation. The righthander was in control from the start as he baffled the Paladins for 6 innings allowing just 4 hits and striking out 11 in the 8-0 shutout. Thomas improved to 3-2 on the season while the Falcons(10-3, 4-1) find themselves back in the district race just 1 game behind South Broward. Offensively, Flanagan was led by TJ Foard, Joel Carranza, Rolando Gomez and Greg Goldberger. All 4 players had 2 hits each in the game. Foard was 2 for 3 with a double and his 1st home run of the season a solo shot leading off the 2nd inning. Goldberger making his 1st Varsity start went 2 for 4 getting his 1st 2 Varsity hits. Gomez and Carranza went 2 for 3 with a double, run scored and 2 RBI apiece. Flanagan will be back on the diamond Friday when they travel to Western HS for another District matchup. Records: Flanagan(10-3,4-1) South Plantation(8-4,3-2)

Flanagan played host to the Orlando-Boone Braves tonight in a rematch of the 2005 State Championship game. Once again the Falcons prevailed handing the Braves a 9-3 defeat. Flanagan won the State Championship game 5-0 in Sarasota. The Falcons offense was on top of their game facing UCF signee Cody Allen and his 92 MPH fastball. Flanagan pounded out 10 hits including 2 home runs and 3 doubles. Rolando Gomez went 2 for 3 with a 2 run HR his 6th on the season. Nick Navarro came up with the big blow in the game as he laced a bases clearing double in the 5th inning down the right field line giving the Falcons a 6-0 lead and chased Allen from the game. Relief pitcher Ryan Mathews a UF signee didn't fair any better as his 1st pitch was launched for a 2 run home run to right field by Joel Carranza expanding the lead to 8-0. Senior 2B TJ Foard was also in on the hitting, starting scoring rallies in the 3rd and 5th innings. He was 2 for 3 with a double. The recipient of all the offense was Junior RJ Fondon(5-0). The lefty was brilliant pitching 6 strong innings before being lifted due to a strict pitch count. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 8 for his 5th win of the season. Flanagan plays South Plantation in a District 12 matchup on Monday at home. The game will be at 6:30. Records: Flanagan(9-3) Boone(8-4)