Calvary Christian bests top-ranked IMG Academy
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BVM) — Two of the nation’s best high school baseball teams faced off March 19 when IMG Academy traveled to Fort Lauderdale to play Calvary Christian. Six days earlier, the two teams met each other for the first time. IMG, who is Perfect Game’s No. 1 ranked team in the nation, handed the Eagles their first loss of the season.
Some movement throughout the High School Top 50 this week, including four newcomers to the rankings: https://t.co/DJR7npfWC8 pic.twitter.com/C0FNf5Wbwv
— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) March 16, 2021
Calvary Christian was determined to return the favor when IMG came to Fort Lauderdale to face the Eagles again. The Eagles were able to do just that, beating the Ascenders 8-2 behind solid pitching performances from their top pitchers Irving Carter and Andrew Painter and also a showcase of offensive talent.
The Eagles faced a challenge going against IMG senior and Virginia Tech commit Mason Albright. He’s a left-handed pitcher with high velocity. His fastball has reached the mid-90s in previous games.
The Eagles started their offensive showcase early on, with first baseman Johnny Lane hitting a double to start the game. Lane was then able to come in to score thanks to a single by shortstop Alex Ulloa. IMG center fielder Elijah Greene made an error on Ulloa’s single, allowing him to reach third. Ulloa then scored after a throwing error on a fly ball from the Ascenders shortstop Drake Varnado.
Calvary Christian went on to score three more runs in the second inning. The Eagles kept the pressure on IMG with a two-run single from Johnny Lane and an infield hit from Ulloa, where he drove in his second run of the game. The Eagles were able to get Albright out of the game after four innings with four runs and eight hits.
The Eagles starter, Irving Carter, continued to roll through IMG’s top-ranked lineup. The Miami Hurricanes commit, and one of the top prep arms in the nation, started the game by retiring six of the first seven batters he faced. The Ascenders didn’t come up with a hit against Carter until the third inning, where their No. 9 hitter Joey Slattery knocked a single.
Against IMG, Carter showed that he’s ready to compete against some of the best young talent in baseball. When the top of the order came up in the third inning, Carter struck out Varnado (an Arkansas commit), Green (a Miami commit), and James Wood (a Mississippi State commit) in order to end the inning without giving up a run.
Carter would give up two runs in the fifth inning, but the Eagles were still in control with a 6-2 lead. He finished the game going five innings, only allowing two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts.
Calvary Christian scored three more runs in the final three innings. Catcher Rene Lastres scored the first after hitting into a fielder’s choice in the fourth. Lane led the Eagles offense going four-for-four in the game, and drove in his third run in the sixth. The Eagles then scored their eighth run of the game on a wild pitch.
Another one of the best high school pitchers in the nation, Florida commit Andrew Painter, came into the game after Carter for the final two innings. Painter closed the game out for the Eagles in two scoreless innings with no hits while striking out two batters and walking two.
