Conchs blast Ransom,

In district top spot

 

BY RALPH MORROW

MANAGING EDITOR

Only a home game against Coral Shores on March 18 stands between Key West High and the District 16-4A baseball top seed in the post season tournament.

The Conchs improved their overall record to 9-2 and stayed unbeaten at 3-0 in district play as they defeated Ransom Everglades, 12-1, in a five-inning “mercy” victory at Coconut Groves Tuesday evening.

Key West could claim the top spot in the April playoffs, also at Ransom Everglades, even sooner, on March 11, when Gulliver Prep plays at Coral Shores. Since the Conchs have already defeated Gulliver Prep, they would get the top seed if Gulliver should defeat Coral Shores.

On Tuesday, the Conchs played and hit as they haven’t in recent years. Greg Veliz (4-0) pitched the first four innings, giving up his first earned run of the season, but made up for that with a three-run home run and a double as he drove in six runs. While Veliz hit his first of the season, Steve Wells slammed his third, a two-run shot that started the scoring in the third inning and Hugo Valdes followed Veliz’s homer with his third and the Conchs’ ninth of the season. A year ago, Key West had but two home runs the entire season. Valdes now has 14 runs batted in.

In the fourth inning, a Ransom batter singled, stole second and third and the following batter was hit by a pitch. When the runner on first bluffed a steal, the Ransom runner on third came home on the throw to second for the first earned run against Veliz.

Key West next plays a non-district game at 4 p.m., Saturday, against Keys Gate in Homestead.

 

 

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