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Sports

Bulls Drop Game Away In Plant City

The Bloomingdale Bulls baseball team lost a non-conference game against Plant City on Tuesday, 5-1.

Coming into Tuesday night’s game, the Bloomingdale coaching staff knew pitching would be the key element to success against the efficient swing of Plant City’s bats. Although the Bulls' pitching staff surrendered a below average .292 batting average, the Raiders were efficient when it counted and cruised to a 5-1 victory at home.

 Bloomingdale’s pitching gave a strong opening statement shutting down the Raider bats early. However, it was an error and two singles by the Bulls defense that would open up the second inning, giving the Raiders an early 3-0 lead.

Down 3-0, the Bulls opened the fourth inning very strong; loading the bases with a one out bloop single that allowed the Bulls to score one run, cutting the lead to 3-1. In the same sequence of plays, the Raiders defense would come up big as Plant City’s shortstop was able to throw the advancing runner to home out on a very questionable call at the plate. Bloomingdale could not capitalize at the plate as the next Bloomingdale batter ground out with runners in scoring position to end the inning.

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 Showing brilliance on the mound, Bloomingdale pitcher Robby Kalaf, sat down two Raider batters back to back in the fourth on strikeouts. This spark seemed to ignite the Bloomingdale bench as junior infielder Richard Martin led off with a beautiful double to center field.

 On the very next pitch, Bloomingdale skipper Kris Wilker sent the speedy Martin on a steal from second where he was thrown out by the Raiders' catcher on another very close call at third. A walked batter and consecutive strikeouts would once again end any promise of a Bulls rally in the fifth.

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A bottom of the fifth opening walk opened the door for Plant City to add to its slim lead. With no outs and a runner on first, Plant City’s Art Knight connected on a 2-2 fastball that sailed over the right-center field fence giving the Raiders a 5-1 lead they would not surrender.

As both pitching staffs made changes in the sixth, they were each able to silence the bats of both teams with efficient pitching, well-timed put-outs by the infielders and strikeouts.

Bloomingdale's road woes continue as they are now 1-2-0 in travel play.

The Bulls will once again be in the confines of their home environment on Friday, March 11, as they host Alonso at 7 p.m.

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