ORANGE PARK - St. Johns Country Day School freshman pitchers Madden Williams and Gavin Coffey stymied Baldwin for six innings as St. Johns Country Day School started a busy week with an 8-1 victory over the visiting Indians on Tues., March 26.

With difficult games scheduled against South Florida power West Broward (7-7) on March 27 and at University Christian (5-7) on March 28, Spartans head coach Tom Lucas (10-2) opted to rest his veteran arms Tuesday. The gamble paid off.
“We are going to need to develop some depth,” Lucas said. “We like their stuff, and we think they can compete. I told them not to try to do too much.”
Willams, a 6’-1” right-hander, allowed only one run over three innings in his first varsity start, scattering four hits and a walk.
“He did well,” Lucas remarked. “He has got a plus fastball that he runs up there at 85, 86 miles per hour, and was able to land his slider just enough. Best of all, he did not panic.”
Lucas was also pleased with Coffey, a side-arming righty who took the mound in the fourth inning and tossed three scoreless innings, fanning four.
“He is funky,” Lucas said of Coffey’s throwing motion. “He came in and caught them off guard. He has come in in some big spots and came through every time.”
SJCD played small ball to score seven runs on just 3 hits in the first two innings against Baldwin ace Cooper Farah. Junior Nick Bowden had the big blow in the first inning, drilling an 0-2 pitch into right field for a single that drove in two runs.
The Spartans pressured Farah and Indians freshman Mason Williams, running at every opportunity. Each of the five SJCD baserunners in a four-run second inning stole a base, capped by a double steal executed by George Gilson and Kolt Myers that allowed Myers to score. In all, the Spartans stole 11 bases.
“We are athletic, and we are going to be aggressive,” said Lucas. “Once we have a three-run lead, they are free to go. Let them play loose and free.”
Kody Daneault reached base three times and scored two runs for SJCD.
“He is starting to see the ball well,” said Lucas of his senior left fielder. “His three walks today were really big for us.”
Daneault also made a running catch over his shoulder to rob Baldwin’s Chase Staley of an extra-base hit in the sixth inning.
The Spartans scored their final run in the fifth inning when Baldwin shortstop Mack Johnson fumbled a ground ball off of the bat of Myers after consecutive walks to Camden Brown and Kyle Boylston.
Baldwin scored its only run in the second inning when Williams, who had doubled, crossed the plate on a sharp single to right by Turner Farah. The Indians fall to 8-4 on the season.