Pasco-Palatka: Live Game 3 Updates

We're back here at the lovely Azalea Bowl in Palatka to offer you periodic updates of today's winner-take-all Class 4A region final between Pasco and Palatka.

The scoreless first inning ended with Palatka, the home team, stranding a runner on third base. Palatka had runners at the corners with one out, but a double steal was thwarted when Pirates shortstop Jake Schrader threw out Bodie Dwyer at home.

Pirates starter Dustin Brown looked shaky in the first, walking two and being charged with a balk.

Comments

[Joey Knight]

After a shaky first inning in which he threw nearly 20 pitches, Brown settles down in the second to retire Palatka in order. After two innings at the Azalea Bowl, we're still scoreless.

[Joey Knight]

Pirates No. 8 hitter Brennan Allen has just hit a solo home run, roughly 375 feet, to left center. Pasco is leading 1-0 with no out in the top of the third.

[Joey Knight]

Palatka has rallied to take a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Brian Lewis, who led off with a single and moved to third on a pair of sacrifices, scored on a fielder's choice grounder. Marquis Lewis scored on a passed ball, and Kyle West drove in two runs with a high fly to center that was misjudged by center fielder Josh Johnson.

It is officially gut check time for the Pirates.

[Joey Knight]

Pasco has just answered the gut check via long distance. Josh Johnson's two-out, three-run home run, more than 400 feet to dead center, has tied the score at 4-all in the top of the fourth.

The Pirates now have two homers today, from their No. 8 (Brennan Allen) and 9 hitters.

[Joey Knight]

Okay, Pirates fans, don't book a hotel room in Sarasota just yet, but it may not hurt to start checking out what's available. Pasco has taken a 6-4 lead with one out in the top of the fifth on Jake Schrader's two-run homer -- Pasco's third of the game. Palatka starter Andy McClain clearly is fading.

[Joey Knight]

Uh, about those hotel rooms in Sarasota...well...er...Palatka has just tied the score -- and chased Brown -- on Brandon Lee's two-run double with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Aaron Brandt, who worked 4.1 innings in Game 1 on Friday, has replaced Brown. Palatka 6, Pasco 6.

[Joey Knight]

Palatka has taken a 9-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth on the afternoon's fourth homer, a three-run shot by Panthers No. 7 hitter Brandon Bennett.

And yes, the wind is blowing out today at the Azalea Bowl.

[Joey Knight]

Palatka's line in the bottom of the fifth: 5 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB

Palatka 9, Pasco 6

[Joey Knight]

Pasco has gone down in order in the top of the sixth. Palatka's No. 9, 1 and 2 batters due up in the bottom of the inning.

[Joey Knight]

Palatka strands two runners in the bottom of the sixth thanks to Brandt, who fans the No. 2 and 4 batters.

Entering the seventh: Palatka 9, Pasco 6

[Joey Knight]

It's over: Palatka 9, Pasco 6

[Pirate Fan]

Giles please retire. This is happening way too much. You cannot win the big one. The only games you ever win are against teams you are better than. If you truly love Pasco High School then you will call it a career, move on and let someone with ability to win the big one come in and that this very talented group of people to the next level. YOU cannot.

[baseball parent]

Quit Ricky.....time to move on

[Get real people!]

Yeah, because Pasco did so much before Giles. Come on, outside of the State Championship in the 50's, Giles has done what nobody else has. Thanks Rick for building Pasco into a State contender year in and year out. The program is better than it ever has been, whose to thank, the parents? I'd like to hear who you think should take over. Giles will go out on his own terms when he's ready and thats the way it should be.