Prep Roundup: Fabian homers twice as Colts wallop Warriors

Deric Fabian blasted a pair of two-run home runs to help propel the red-hot North Marion baseball team to an 11-1, five-inning win over visiting West Nassau on Wednesday night in the FHSAA Class 4A Region 1 quarterfinals.

Fabian finished with three hits, four RBIs and three runs scored for the Colts who tallied six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning before ten-run ruling the Warriors in the fifth.

Wednesday's victory was North Marion's third consecutive five-inning win, and the team has outscored its opponents 39-1 in its last three games. 

During that three-game stretch, the Colts routed St. Augustine Menedez 14-0 in the district semifinals, then defeated Port Orange Atlantic 14-0 in Friday's District 4A-4 championship game. 

West Nassau's lone run Wednesday, which came in the top of the fourth inning, is the only run the Colts have given up so far in the playoffs.   

"Offensively, we have been swinging it well lately and we are hoping it all continues," North Marion head coach Dale Hall said.

Eli Garcia drove in three runs, and Jacob Walton had two hits for North Marion which finished the game with 11 total hits.  

Starting pitcher Wyatt Campbell struck out eight over five innings and held West Nassau to one run. 

Campbell also drove in two runs at the plate.

"Wyatt threw a lot of strikes and pitched well tonight," Hall said.

North Marion (18-8) will now host either Atlantic or Jacksonville Bishop Kenney on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Class 4A Region 1 semifinals.

SOFTBALL

The North Marion softball team was defeated 12-2 at Inverness Citrus in the FHSAA Class 4A Region 2 quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

The loss ended the Colts’ season at 9-16. The Hurricanes (15-9) will host Belleview (20-7) in next Tuesday’s Region 2 semifinals.