Sellers’ hit helps Conchs win big game in extra inning

BY RALPH MORROW

MANAGING EDITOR

In a game that brought back memories of its glory years, Key West High’s baseball team nipped Westminster Christian, 3-2, in eight innings Friday afternoon at Miami.

The Conchs, with 11 state championships, and WC, with 10, lead the pack in Florida prep baseball titles.

Hunter Sellers singled over the second baseman’s outstretched glove, scoring Brandon Presley from second to break a 2-2 tie in the top of the extra eighth inning. Steve Wells (4-0) completed the one-hitter, striking out a pair and getting the home team’s leadoff hitter on a grounder to short to wrap it up as Key West , in District 16-4A, went to 18-3-1 on the season. Westminster, of 16-3A,  is now 15-4-1.

Greg Veliz pitched the first five innings for the Conchs and did not allow a hit. In fact through four innings, WC had no base runners. However, two runs scored in the bottom of the fifth on a walk, a bunt sacrifice, a hit batsman (Veliz’s eighth of the season), two wild pitches that scored one run and a steal of home that gave WC a 2-1 lead.

A Veliz leadoff double in the fourth led to Key West’s first run and the Conchs tied it in the top of the sixth on a pair of walks, a single by Presley and Chris Varela’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.

With two outs in the eighth, Presley, Varela and Sellers hit successive singles. Wells had the only other Key West hit, leading off the game with a single. Westminster had only a two-out single in the sixth, as Veliz (7) and Wells (4) combined for 11 strikeouts.

Key West is off until next weekend, when they face Champagnat  in 7:30 p.m. games Friday and Saturday at Rex Weech Field. The Conchs wrap up the regular season with a similar schedule the following weekend against Pine Crest.

 

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