Veliz, Perez pace Conchs to big win at Gulliver

 

BY RALPH MORROW

MANAGING EDITOR

The Key West High School baseball team took one of its most important victories in several years when the Conchs won at Gulliver Prep, 7-0, Wednesday afternoon behind the pitching of Greg Veliz and a grand slam home run from senior Andy Perez.

The win gave the Conchs a 7-1 record on the season (including two preseason victories), but more important, a 2-0 record in District 16-4A play with only district games against Ransom Everglades (March 4) and Coral Shores (March 18) remaining, both at Rex Weech Field. Gulliver Prep, presumed to be the Conchs’ district competition, fell to 3-3 and 1-1.

The Conchs now come home to the Rex with 7:30 p.m. games Friday (Military Night) and Saturday against Stoneman Douglas.

Sophomore righthander Veliz (3-0) pitched six innings on Wednesday, allowing but three hits, one hit batsman and no walks, while striking out six. Stevie Wells finished up, walking a pair, but giving up no hits in the seventh.

Key West struck early, getting three runs on four hits in the second inning. Darren Miller walked, Brandon Presley singled and both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Hunter Sellers. However, Chris Varela hit back to the pitcher who threw out Miller at home plate for the second out. Jay Feathers broke it open though with a single to third that scored Presley. Wells doubled home Varela and Feathers scored on a single by Perez, although Wells was thrown out also trying to score.

In the fourth inning, Presley singled and Sellers doubled him to third. When Presley didn’t try to advance on a fly ball out to center by Varela and Feathers followed by striking out, the outlook appeared bleak for the Conchs. However, Gulliver pitcher Davis Brown (1-1) elected to give Wells an intentional walk and Perez made him pay, sending the four-run shot over the left field fence.

Besides the two scoring innings, the Conchs collected but one other hit, a single leading off the game by Wells.

 

 

 

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