FLEMING ISLAND - After an 8-1 loss against Yulee in their season opener on February 21, Fleming Island (2-1) doubled down with a 7-3 win over Bartram Trail and, on Tuesday, a 4-3 win over Yulee in a …
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FLEMING ISLAND - After an 8-1 loss against Yulee in their season opener on February 21, Fleming Island (2-1) doubled down with a 7-3 win over Bartram Trail and, on Tuesday, a 4-3 win over Yulee in a game highlighted with a walk off double by Calab Lanoux.
With Yulee moving to a 2-0 lead in the first three innings off an outfield error and a strong bit of hitting by the Hornets off starting pitcher Chris Chafton.
In those first two innings, Fleming Island was indeed hitting the ball with Drew Wilkerson slicing the first pitch into left field, but Austin Morton and Tyler Hudson both flying out to leave him alone. Justin Stadlemaier smashed a single through the shortstop hole to move Wilkerson and Cory Solomon walked to load the bases. Lanoux would strike out to squelch the intiative.
In the third, Billy Schopp scorched a long double to right field, but was stranded on a groundout to Stadelmaier.
In the sixth inning, Yulee added one more and looked to be cruising to another win over the Golden Eagles, but the Fleming Island bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth.
In the sixth, Cory Solomon struck out to boost the Yulee dugout, but a walk to Lanoux and a hit on Chafton put two baserunners in play for Fleming Island. A single to Collier Summers loaded the bases just before Billy Schopp launched a three run double to tie the game at 3-3.
"The players have put in a lot of work to prepare for the upcoming season," said first-year coach Marty Lanoux in a pre-season question. "Hopefully, the offense starts out hot and hitting."
Justin Stadelmaier reached on a third base error to push Schopp to scoring position as Lanoux took the batter's box and smacked the gamewinner deep to left field.
Shortstop Austin Morton had an outstanding game in the hole with seven assists and two putouts with Schopp adding four assists.
Fleming Island features new coach Marty Lanoux with his staff of Lee Hall, Grant Biglan, Dave Whetstone, Jim Tuttle and Mike Schopp. The Golden Eagles graduated a slew of top-tier players with catcher Will Sarsen at West Point, infielders Tanner Thomas and Chris Hawkins at Tallahassee Community College, pitcher Zach Blankenship at St. Johns County College and ourfielder Jordan Imperial at Florida State College-Jacksonville.
Blankenship and Hawkins were also top pitchers last year for the Golden Eagles.
"We will pitch by committee in the beginning of the season and rely heavily on our Offense and defense to help us out," said Lanoux, who noted that Schopp is signed to play at Tallahassee Community College next year.
Next: At Middleburg March 2, at Fletcher March 3, vs. Lee March 7, at Clay March 10.