Son in the sun

Salem CC wins a pair of games to even record on Florida swing, son of former major-leaguer pitches final inning of nightcap

By Riverview Sports News

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Salem CC baseball coach John Holt had been waiting to hand Fernando Rodney Jr. the ball for more than a year. He got the chance Friday.

Rodney, the son of the former MLB All-Star pitcher, was coming off an injury and finally made his Salem debut in the fifth inning of the Mighty Oaks’ 14-3 rout of Oakton in their second game of the day.

His dad, who played for 11 major-league teams and was known for the crooked way he wore his cap, spoke to the team before they beat North Dakota State College of Science 11-1 in their first game of the day.

Rodney, a right-hander just like his dad, came in behind starter Pat Seitzinger with the Mighty Oaks safely ahead of Oakton 14-1 after four innings. It was his job to close out the run-rule victory.

He didn’t give up a hit, but walked the bases loaded and was charged with two unearned runs that scored on a two-out error. He struck out one. He faced seven batters and threw 31 pitches, consistently hitting between 77 and 82 mph.

Yen Rodriguez highlighted the NDSCS game with a grand slam in the fourth inning off a 68-mph changeup. Chris Kelly had two hits and two RBIs and Tim Bowlby drove in a pair of runs. Seth McCormick pitched all five innings, giving up five hits, a run and striking out six.

Matt Murphy led the hit parade in the Oakton game, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. He had two doubles and all four of his RBIs in a 10-run first inning that decided the game.

Bowlby went 2-for-2 with two RBIs; Cole Dawson, Demetrius DeRamus and Kelly all had two hits; and Lee Rodriguez drove in two runs.

The Mighty Oaks are now 4-4 on the Florida swing after winning their last four games.