Jesuit (Tampa) beats Bloomingdale in early season matchup of top-ranked baseball teams

Future Florida State Seminole Jamie Arnold pitched five shutout innings for Jesuit.

TAMPA, Fla. - In a battle between the top-ranked high school baseball teams in Hillsborough County, Jesuit knocked off Bloomingdale 4-1 Monday night at Hyde Family Park in Tampa.

It was the 2022 season opener for both teams and the game wrapped up the first day of the inaugural 813Preps Bash. 

“It’s always nice to begin the season on the right foot,” Jesuit head coach Miguel Melendez said after the win. “We are going to be a fun team to watch, and this is just the beginning of what hopes to be a long and fun season.”

The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning as senior first baseman Jake Rupp drove in a pair of runs on a bases-loaded single to center field. 

The host Tigers sent out their ace and future Florida State Seminole Jamie Arnold who pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits, with one walk and nine strikeouts. At one point, Arnold retired 12 consecutive Bloomingdale batters from the second to the fifth inning. 

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tigers added some insurance runs courtesy of a two-base error by Pittsburgh commit AJ Nessler and an RBI triple by Vanderbilt commit Wes Mendes to make it 4-0.

In the sixth inning, the Bulls got their lone run of the night, as Stetson commit Jack Owens reached on an error. The Bulls threatened to tack on more runs as they put two runners on with only one out. But Vanderbilt commit Wes Mendes struck out the next two hitters to get out of the inning.

For the final three outs, the Tigers sent out junior closer Brooks Chamberlain who retired the Bulls in order to secure the save.

Jack Owens took the loss for the Bulls. He worked five innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out eight. 

Up Next for Bloomingdale: Tuesday, 2/22 vs Northeast (Game at Jesuit High School)- 7:00PM

Up Next for Jesuit: Wednesday, 2/23 vs Plant- 7:00PM

(Feature photo courtesy of Pete Young)