Bloomingdale and Plant are no strangers to close games this season, with each team having already played eight games decided by two or fewer runs entering tonight's Game of the Week. So it was no surprise that the showdown between 8A District 7 rivals went extra innings, before a game-winning infield single from sophomore Nate Chevalier gave the Bulls a 4-3 win in nine innings.
The Panthers got on the board first in the top of the 3rd, as an RBI groundout from Connor Scott scored Dean Herman and an RBI single from Ryan Ellis scored first-round MLB draft prospect Kyle Tucker. They tacked on another run and ace Jake Woodford (Florida signee) cruised through five innings against Bloomingdale.
Finally in the bottom of the sixth, the Bulls broke through. Three consecutive singles from Austin James, Chase Lackman and Logan Crouse (Florida State signee) started a three-run inning that tied the game.
Plant loaded the bases in the top of the 8th but Carson Crouse struck out Ellis to escape the jam. The Bulls had already lost three district games in extra innings this season, but they were finally able to get the monkey off their back in the bottom of the ninth.
Plant had dominated the recent history between the two, winning seven of their last eight meetings, but the Bulls won the most important one last season, a 5-3 win in the Region Semifinals. The Panthers fall to 9-6 (3-3 in 8A-7) and will look to rebound Tuesday at Riverview. The Bulls improve to 8-6 (2-4 in 8A-7) and will travel to district opponent Wharton on Tuesday.
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