Month: March 2026

Atlanteans Take Series with Strong Offensive Display Against Lighthouse

MIAMI – Atlantis University opened Saturday’s NSAC series with a close 5–4 win over Lighthouse Christian College, showing real resilience. LCC took an early 3–0 lead, scoring twice in the first inning and once more in the second. Atlantis University stayed calm and slowly got back into the game. The big moment came in the fifth inning, when Guerrero hit a key double to drive in a run, and Lopez drew a bases-loaded walk to help shift the momentum and put Atlantis ahead. On the mound, right-hander Encarnacion pitched six innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out nine, and walking just two. Sobrino finished the game with a scoreless inning to secure the win. The offense got hits from Guerrero, Bracho, Astudillo, Valbuena, and Lopez, while the defense played error-free baseball for a strong team effort.

Atlantis followed the opening win with a commanding offensive explosion in Game Two, defeating Lighthouse 14–4. The Atlanteans delivered one of their most productive innings of the season in the second, erupting for ten runs that completely shifted the game’s trajectory. The rally featured a sequence of timely hits and aggressive baserunning, including RBI contributions from Lopez, Guerrero, Astudillo, Knowles Jr., and Chung. The offensive surge established firm control and energized the Atlantis dugout. Starting pitcher Villalobos earned the win after striking out six batters across four innings of work, while Olazabel later secured the save to complete the victory. AU’s lineup produced an impressive 16 hits in the game. Guerrero led the charge from the leadoff spot with three hits, while Astudillo, Mamarella, Valbuena, and Knowles Jr. each delivered multi-hit performances. Lopez drove in three runs and added two stolen bases, highlighting the Atlanteans’ aggressive approach on the basepaths. The team also executed defensively, turning two double plays that reinforced their control of the contest.

The series finale presented a different challenge. The Makos surged early with a seven-run first inning highlighted by a grand slam that immediately put the Atlanteans on the defensive. Despite the early deficit, AU refused to fold. The lineup steadily chipped away at the margin through consistent contact and situational hitting. Atlantis University collected ten hits in the game and mounted a determined comeback effort that ultimately fell one run short in a 7–6 loss. Bracho, Astudillo, Ruiz, and Lopez each recorded two hits, while Astudillo drove in two runs to pace the offense. Sobrino provided stability on the mound in relief, throwing three scoreless innings and limiting Lighthouse Christian’s momentum. Defensively, Atlantis remained disciplined and turned three double plays to keep the game within reach. The comeback effort demonstrated the team’s competitiveness and ability to respond under pressure.

Atlantis improved to 12-10 overall and 6-2 in league play.

Story and image courtesy Atlantis Athletics

Apprentice Takes Three from St. Vincent, Improves to 14-2

HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team took three of four this weekend from Saint Vincent, splitting a Friday twinbill before winning both halves of Saturday’s doubleheader.

The Builders won the first game of the series Friday afternoon by a 4-2 final score. After the Bearcats jumped out in front in the top of the first, Justin Bradshaw tied the game up with a RBI single before Apprentice took the lead in the fourth on a Jaeden Anderson RBI single. Jackson Thomas brought home the final two runs for the Builders in the fifth on a single as well.

Nick Redman (5-0) got the win, striking out seven over six innings, while Grant Stratton shut the door in the seventh to earn his third save.

SVC got their revenge in the second half of Friday’s twinbill, winning 6-5, despite a late comeback attempt from Apprentice. The Bearcats scored four in the third to take the lead, but the Builders got one back in the fourth on a Jett Winslow RBI single. After single runs in the fifth and sixth stretched the lead to 6-1, Apprentice took advantage of walks and errors by SVC to score four runs. The Bearcats went to their closer, though, who struck out the final two batters of the game to get the win.

The Builders bounced back on Saturday with a sweep of SVC to earn the series win. The day started with a 5-0 win that saw all five runs come across in the first two innings. All three runs scored in the first inning came via bases loaded walks, while Isaac McCallister got a RBI single, followed by a Landon Turner sacrifice fly in the second to score the runs.

Charley Higginbotham (3-1) was near perfect on the bump, going the complete seven, allowing just four hits and a walk while fanning three.

The series win came in a 10-5 win in the nightcap. SVC scored two in the top of the first, but the Builders answered immediately with a Seth Harrison sacrifice fly followed by a Winslow two RBI single to take the lead. After the Bearcats tied it in the top of the second, Nate Yeary and Anderson had back-to-back sacrifice flies to retake the lead at 5-3. Four more Builder runs came across in the third, three of which were on bases loaded walks, before Drew Barbosa pushed the final Builder run across on a RBI groundout.

The Builders move to 14-2 on the season and now head to Myrtle Beach this week for a five-game week against Cincinnati-Clermont, Colby-Sawyer and NHTI.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn