IMG Academy shuts out St. Johns Country Day behind pitcher Noah Franco
BRADENTON, FLORIDA- Starting an hour earlier than the scheduled time designated for the game proved to help IMG Academy when they hosted St. Johns Country Day Thursday afternoon.
With Noah Franco, a TCU commitment, taking the mound for IMG Academy, it was no problem whatsoever for the Ascenders.
Franco pitched a one-hit gem in leading the Ascenders to a 3-0 win over St. Johns Country Day at IMG Academy Field. IMG Academy entered the day ranked the No. 2 team in Florida, against St. Johns Country Day, the No. 3 squad, in the latest SBLive Sports Florida top 25 baseball rankings.
"Really all it was, was trusting my defense out there," Franco said of the big win. "That was my fourth appearance and in all four I've just gone out, fully trusted my defense. All I have to do is do my part. If we all do our part, come as one, our goal will be reached."
IMG Academy (9-1) went into the game with its lone loss coming against Bob Jones (Alabama) back on March 2nd. Since then, the Ascenders have notched impressive wins over Archbishop McCarthy, Doral Academy and Palmetto. Add St. Johns Country Day (8-1) to the now four-game winning streak for the Ascenders, which handed the Spartans their first loss of 2024.
Both pitchers started off strong, as the game remained scoreless through two innings. It was at the bottom of the third inning when IMG Academy would eventually breakthrough.
Sean Gamble, a Vanderbilt commitment, drove in two runs in the bottom of the third inning to give the Ascenders a 2-0 lead.
Austin Stratman started the game for St. Johns Country Day on the mound, but was eventually chased away in the bottom of the fourth inning. Trevor Bradley entered in the bottom of the fourth for Stratman and the Ascenders would add one more run to their lead.
With the bases loaded, senior outfielder Gunner Geile scored when a fielder's choice, giving IMG Academy a commanding 3-0 lead. That's all Franco needed the rest of the way.
Franco, who finished the game with five strikeouts on 86 pitches, ran into a jam at the top of the fifth inning when the Spartans threatened with multiple runners on base. The future Horn Frog was able to get the final out himself, to keep St. Johns Country Day off the board.
"I knew that was going to be my last inning," Franco said of the top of the fifth jam. "I knew I had to bring out all I had. All that was left in me in my tank. After the first out, coach talked to me and told me it was my inning and let me finish it out."
Left-hander Blake Larson, another TCU commitment, filled in relief pitching of Franco and keeping the shutout, the third this season, for the Ascenders. Between Franco and Larson, they combined to allow only two hits.
"It's just a good win for our kids," IMG Academy program director Dan Simonds said. "To play a very solid team like (St. Johns Country Day), which I don't think had a loss coming into the game, very well coached team. Noah's (Franco) last couple of outings have been very sharp. He pitched out of a couple jams and had some timely hitting."
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
