SIDELINES: 08.20.15

+ Locals shine at All-American Game

Two local pitchers took the mound at the Perfect Game All-American Classic Aug. 16 at Petco Park in San Diego.

West Orange’s Tyler Baum and Windermere Prep’s Austin Bergner each pitched an inning for the East team, which won the contest 3-1. Each pitcher allowed one hit and neither allowed a run, with Bergner striking out two of the hitters he faced and Baum striking out one.

Both seniors from the coverage area have committed to play their college baseball at North Carolina and have an increasing draft stock.

+ Olympia alum almost sets record

Jesse Winker, an Olympia alum who is in the Cincinnati Reds’ minor-league system, homered in five consecutive games last week — nearly setting a record.

The streak for Winker, who just turned 22, is a team record but was one game short of the six consecutive games record set by former Southern Leaguer Derrek Lee.

A 2012 graduate from Olympia, Winker has been hitting over .400 in the past dozen games and is regarded as the Reds’ top prospect.

+ WOHS hoops alum commits

Jeremiah Thornton has found a home to play his college basketball.

Thornton, a 6-foot-1 standout guard for the West Orange Warriors last winter, signed to play for the Alabama Southern Community College Eagles

As a senior, Thornton averaged 10.3 points per game to go along with 2.8 assists per contests and 3.9 rebounds (stats via MaxPreps).

+ McNeill heads to Kentucky

West Orange baseball alum Gunnar McNeill will play the remainder of his college baseball career at the University of Kentucky.

McNeill has committed to play for the Wildcats after playing a season at Chipola College, a junior college in Marianna. McNeill originally began his collegiate career at Florida International, where he hit .280 as a freshman and logged a 2.05 ERA in 15 pitching appearances. 

In the spring of 2015 at Chipola, McNeill hit .362 with six home runs and 48 RBI. He also logged three wins and four saves as a reliever.

McNeill’s father, Carl McNeill, also attended the University of Kentucky, where he was on the golf team.

Carl McNeill is a professional golfer.

+ USWNT to play at Citrus Bowl

Soccer fans who followed along as the United States Women’s National Team captured the attention of the nation with its World Cup title will get a chance to see those same stars in person in late October.

The USWNT will take on Brazil Oct. 25 at the Orlando Citrus Bowl as part of a 10-game victory tour.

The USWNT last visited Central Florida in 2013, defeating Brazil 4-1 in front of 20,274 fans.