Hernando High Crushes Seminole 13-2, Advances to Classic Semifinals

BROOKSVILLE — Hernando High baseball coach Tim Sims pieced together a patchwork lineup Wednesday night at Emerson Field after his usual leadoff batter went down with an injury. What followed was one of the Leopards' biggest offensive outbursts of the season.

Senior Austin Knierim delivered a strong pitching and hitting performance, and eight of Hernando's nine starters recorded at least one hit as the Leopards rolled past Seminole 13-2 in the second round of the Farm Bureau Insurance Baseball Classic. The win pushed Hernando's record to 12-2 and extended the team's winning streak to six games.

The offense has been relentless during that stretch. Over the last six games, the Leopards have scored 66 runs, and Wednesday's 14-hit attack kept that torrid pace alive.

Knierim, Jayden Allen and Rhett Williams each went 3-for-the-game to anchor the lineup. Allen, 15, led all hitters with four RBIs. Williams knocked in three, and Knierim added two runs batted in to go with his work on the mound.

Hernando actually fell behind first. Seminole scored twice in the top of the first inning to go up 2-0, but the Leopards answered immediately. With Ellis newly installed in the leadoff spot, Sims slid sophomore shortstop Brody Hedick up from his usual No. 5 position to second in the order. The adjustment paid off right away: Ellis drew a leadoff walk, Hedick followed with a double to push Ellis to third, and Knierim lined a double to right field to score both runners and tie the game at 2-2.

In his new role, Ellis helped set the table for the offense throughout the night. Hernando never trailed again, eventually pulling away for the 11-run margin.

The Leopards now advance to Thursday night's semifinal against Land O' Lakes, which earned its spot in the round by defeating South Sumter 3-1 on Tuesday night.