- Home-opener February 24 vs. Davenport at Tom McKee Field
- Vakiener commits to Palm Beach State College
- Young & Torres commit to Mid-Atlantic Christian University
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Subscribe to our NewsletterVakiener Shines on Opening Night
Austin Vakiener pitched a complete-game one-hitter and struck out 16 - including the final eight - as Haines City opened the 2022 season with a 7-0 win over Davenport Thursday night at Tom McKee Field.
Vakiener (1-0) allowed only a one-out single in the fourth inning and struck out the side in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings.
Jadiel Rivera and Andy Colon paced the Hornets’ offense with a pair of hits, a run scored and an RBI each.
The Hornets scored twice in the first inning. With two out, Anthony Torres walked and Cody Krantz singled. Back to back errors on balls hit by Colon and Remington Young allowed Torres and Krantz scored.
With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Krantz walked advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Colon.
The Hornets put the game away with a four-run sixth inning. The Hornets loaded the bases when Colon singled to lead off the inning and Young and Vakiener followed with walks. Colon scored on a ball and when Rivera lifted a single to right, pinch runner Jimmy Germaine scored and then when the relay throw was wide of second base fellow pinch runner Omarion Nimmons scored.
With two outs, Brady Doorey singled to advance Rivera to third and then Torres singled to right to score him with the final run.
The Hornets are back in action Tuesday at 7 pm when they host Winter Haven.
Hornets sign to play at next level
The following Haines City Hornets have verbally committed to continue their baseball and academic careers next fall:
Anthony Torres, Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Austin Vakiener, Palm Beach State College
Remington Young, Mid-Atlantic Christian University
The following Haines City Hornets have played Major League Baseball:
Larry Parrish (Class of 1971) - Montreal Expos (1974-81), Texas Rangers (1982-88), Boston Red Sox (1988)
Derrick Gibson - Colorado Rockies (1998-99)
Rob Whalen - Atlanta Braves (2016), Seattle Mariners (2017-18)
The following Haines City Hornets have been drafted by Major League Baseball organizations:
Anthony Dunnahoe (Class of 1988) - drafted by Houston Astros (50th round, 1988)
Steven Figueroa (Graduated from Orlando Edgewater) - drafted by Atlanta Braves (6th round, 2006)
Nelson Galindez (Class of 2017) - drafted by Washington Nationals (22nd round, 2017)
Derrick Gibson (Class of 2013) - drafted by Colorado Rockies (13th round, 1993)
Dennis Guinn (Graduated from Winter Haven) - drafted by Texas Rangers (17th round, 2008)
Juan Hillman (Graduated from Olympia) - drafted by Cleveland Indians (2nd round, 2015)
Zach Jackson (Graduated from Winter Haven) - drafted by St. Louis Cardinals (6th round, 2017)
Earl 'Tony' Joiner (Class of 2004) - drafted by Minnesota Twins (44th round, 2004)
Darryl Kennedy (Graduated from Winter Haven) - drafted by Texas Rangers (37th round, 1991)
Rick Lear (Class of 1975) - drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers (9th round, 1976-Jan.)
Rick Lear (Class of 1975) - drafted by Cincinnati Red (2nd round, 1976-June sec.)
Keshawn Lynch (Class of 2015) - drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks (14th round, 2017)
Brayan Morales - drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers (15th round, 2016)
Matt Reed (Class of 1999) - drafted by Minnesota Twins (30th round, 1999)
Rob Whalen (Class of 2012) - drafted by New York Mets (12th round, 2012)
The following Haines City Hornets played Independent League baseball
Richie Linder - Zanesville Grays (Frontier League)
