For the second time in the last three years, Vero Beach High has made the chance to make school history by delivering the program’s first baseball state championship.
At most, two teams stand in Vero’s way. And the team immediately in its path just so happens to be ranked second in the nation.
Vero Beach faces its toughest test in the year when it takes on Venice in a Class 7A state semifinal on Friday, May 15 from Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
Watch Vero Beach vs. Venice in Class 7A baseball state semifinal
Advancing by winning the Region 3-7A title, Vero (24-4) is seeded fourth in the state bracket and enter the game ranked eighth in its classification and 36th overall. Venice (31-1) is the Region 1-6A champion. The team is the top-ranked program in the state.
Can Vero Beach pull of the massive upset? Or will favored Venice about to stroll its seventh state title?
The winner between Martin County and Buchholz would face the winner of Hagerty and Stoneman Douglas at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 16.
Treasure Coast Newspapers is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along.
Vero Beach vs. Venice state semifinal updates
Two on, no outs for Vero
Back at the top of the order, Downey pushes a bunt pass the third baseman, who was playing in. Vero with two on and no outs for Lopez.
Tomas walks to start the sixth
The No. 9 hitter walks on five pitches to lead off the inning. It’s the first walk surrendered by Cox.
Morgan keeps Vero Beach alive
The senior hops off the mound after getting Cox to strike out looking with a runner on second base to end the inning. He’s up to six strikeouts.
Venice’s heart of the order with a chance to add insurance
Graham Houston is in scoring position after hitting an opposite-field double. with one out.
Cox responds after base hit
The senior ace strikes out Jaxon Pomar and Colt Miller after the Schlitt base hit. Vero is down to its final six outs.
Schlitt gets Vero’s second hit of the game
The junior smashes a single to center. He’s aboard with one out in the fifth.
Morgan holding up his end of the bargin
The senior works around an error to retire the side in the fourth. He ends the frame by striking out Poplin, his fifth K of the night.
Double play ends Vero’s best chance to score
Johnston grounds to short for the 6-4-3 double play. Middle fourth, Venice still leads 1-0.
Error possibly leads to a chance to tie
Caleb Wood grounded to third for a potential inning-ending double play but the throw to second is off target. Runners on the corners for Johnston, only one out.
Vero gets its first baserunner
A groundball off the bat of Downey gets under the Venice second baseman for Vero’s first baserunner of the day. Lopez tries to move Downey to second with a bunt, but Cox fires to second to get the lead runner.
Morgan escapes trouble
After Mauro steals second and Cox walks, Morgan limits the damage by striking out Randall Riley with a fastball. Venice strands two, but leads 1-0.
Venice scores | Venice 1, Vero Beach 0, Bottom 3
The home team on the scoreboard cashes in as Jonathan Mauro ropes a single to right to score Poplin from second.
Venice threatens again
Kohen Poplin leads off the bottom of the third with a walk. He’s moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt from August Backman. Second inning in a row that the home team has a runner in scoring position.
Cox is perfect through three
Jaxon Pomar pops out, Colt Miller strikes out and Jordan Tomas grounds out to end the third. Cox is in control through three.
Venice produces scoring threat
R.J. Shields smokes a deep fly ball to center field. Vero outfielder Hunter Johnston can’t reel it in, as Shields slides into third with a two-out triple. However, he’s stranded there as Maddox Volk grounds out to short to end the inning.
Six up, six down for Cox
Cox retires the first six batters he faced. He’s thrown 24 pitches through the first two innings of work.
Scoreless through the first
After the leadoff hitter reached on an error, Morgan shuts down the next three batters to retire the side. Morgan gets Cox to strike out swinging for the third out.
Vero’s starting pitcher – Cody Morgan
Vero’s all-time wins leader takes the bump. The senior is 9-4 with a 1.00 ERA with 104 strikeouts through 70 innings pitched.
Vero goes down in order
After Downey’s groundout, Cox gets Dom Lopez to strikeout looking before Caleb Wood grounded out to second base.
Venice’s starting pitcher – Carter Cox
The senior is 13-0 with 116 strikeouts and a 0.29 ERA through 72 innings pitched. First pitch comes at 4:04 p.m. from Cox. After four pitches, he gets leadoff hitter Nate Downey to ground out to shortstop.
Vero rocking its home whites
Despite being the road team on the scoreboard, Vero Beach is wearing home white jerseys with red pants.
Welcome back to Fort Myers
First pitch is approximately 10 minutes away as Vero Beach is set to take on Venice for the right to play for a state championship at Hammond Stadium. According to AccuWeather, it is 88 degrees with mostly sunny conditions.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach vs. Venice: Live score updates from 7A baseball state semis
Reporting by Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
