ORANGE PARK - With a fourth game in five days, in the top of the first inning, the visiting Ponte Vedra Sharks came in and took a huge bite out of the host Orange Park Raiders, slapping four runs on the board before the Raiders could even get going. The Sharks continued their attack amassing five stolen bases on their way to a 12-4 win over the Raiders, ending Orange Park’s two-game win streak.

When asked about digging out from the four quick runs the Sharks put on the board, Raider’s Head Coach George Eldredge said “We’re not good at digging out. We out-hit them most of the game. We lost the fielding and I think we came out a little bit flat with the fourth game this week.”
On the hill for the Raiders, pitcher Tyson Cruz was throwing everything he had, only walked three and struck out two. It was the bats of the Sharks amassing the 11 hits which the field defense just had too many issues getting a grip on.
Once the Sharks blew the door open in the top of the first, the Raiders could do no better than a Robert Barnett single before the inning closed. Orange Park defended the second inning well with three batters to the box and three outs for Ponte Vedra. On offense, Orange Park looked to get things moving in a positive direction when leadoff batter Jaylen Williams singled to left field, followed up by Devon Moore hit by a pitch to move Williams into scoring position. An Eman Rivera single pushed Williams all the way home getting the Raiders on the board, 4-1. As fast as the momentum was building, the Sharks turned a double play to throw cold water on the Raider attack. The inning ended with the next batter striking out.
After a Ponte Vedra third-inning homer to add to their lead, with Orange Park back on offense, the Raiders put two runners on by another hit by pitch and a walk. Tyson Cruz RBI doubled to score Robert Barnett, 5-2.
In the top of the fourth, with two Shark outs and one runner on first, the Raiders had more field issues with a deep fly to score a run, then a wild pitch scoring another. Before the team could get the last out, they were looking up out of a deep hole, 8-2. In the bottom of the inning, the Raiders left two onboard with nothing on the scoreboard to show for the effort.
Ponte Vedra added another run in the top of the fifth to go up 9-2. In the bottom of the inning, Orange Park added two more runs from a Tyson Cruz RBI double, scoring Barnett, then Cruz making his way around the bases to take advantage of Jack Bejarano stealing second, and Cruz making his way home on a Ponte Vedra error by the catcher for the last Raider score, 9-4.
The Sharks added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Raiders could do no better than add a runner on in each of the last two innings, breaking the two-game run they had with a 12-4 Friday night loss.
“We’re 11 and 11. It’s still the most wins an Orange Park Baseball team has had in a decade. A decade!” said Eldredge. “I’m proud of that, but next week is big. We need to rebound. Work hard Monday and come out Tuesday to beat Fletcher.”
The team rolls into the last week of the regular season with games Tuesday at home against Fletcher and traveling to close the season at Tocoi Creek Thursday and at University Christian Friday night.