Windermere High baseball advances to state championship game

After a 2-1 win over Timber Creek High, the Wolverines will face Marjory Stoneman Douglas High for the 7A state championship game.

By Sam Albuquerque
| 3:00 p.m. May 18, 2024

Sports
High Schools

Windermere High baseball has advanced to the FHSAA Class 7A state championship game and will face Marjory Stoneman Douglas High on Saturday, May 18 at 5 p.m.

The Wolverines (28-3) topped another Central Florida team in Timber Creek High (24-7) for the berth in the title game in dramatic fashion.

In the 7th inning, the Wolverines had a 2-1 lead over the Wolves of Timber Creek and needed just one more out to clinch its spot in the title game. With two Timber Creek runners on base, Wolves' senior Tyler Mendoza belted the Windermere pitch to right field.

Just as the ball was about to touch ground in front of the warning track, Windermere sophomore outfielder Randy Ruiz, while diving fully parallel to the ground, snatches it out of the air and sends his team to the finals. Final score: Wolverines 2, Wolves 1.

It was junior Connor Fink on the mound for Windermere in this pitcher's duel. Fink allowed just three hits and one run in his 4.1 innings, while freshman Jack Waddingham got the win.

From the plate, it was senior outfielder Ty Head from the cleanup spot that led the way. Head went 2-2, with a walk, and scored one of Windermere's two runs.

Windermere will play Stoneman Douglas at Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers for the state title. If you cannot make the trip south, you can stream the game on the NFHS Network with a subscription. Follow this link to find the game: NFHS Network, FHSAA Channel.

Sam Albuquerque

A native of João Pessoa, Brazil, Sam Albuquerque moved in 1997 to Central Florida as a kid. After earning a communications degree in 2016 from the University of Central Florida, he started his career covering sports as a producer for a local radio station, ESPN 580 Orlando. He went on to earn a master’s degree in editorial journalism from Northwestern University, before moving to South Carolina to cover local sports for the USA Today Network’s Spartanburg Herald-Journal. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his lovely wife, Sarah, newborn son, Noah, and dog named Skulí.