VENICE
Craig Faulkner certainly has some talking and reference points going forward with his Venice High baseball team.
When the Indians are at the bunting station and either not getting bunts down or not getting them down in the proper spots, he always can reference the Class 7A State Championship game at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers.
Venice coach Craig Faulkner speaks at the post-game press conference with Joey Kinker, left, and Trevor Holloway, right, after the Indians lost to Tampa Gaither, 2-1, in the Class 7A State Final. STAFF PHOTO / DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI
After the game Faulkner lamented his team's bunt execution in the Indians’ 2-1 loss in eight innings to Tampa Gaither on May 21.
We didn’t get some of our bunts down where we wanted them to," Faulkner said. "We tried to get some bunts placed a little bit better. It was one of those deals. They got us today, but we did some good things."
Two pitchers — Trevor Holloway and Brent Killam — held a Gaither team averaging nearly seven runs per game during its end-of-the-season, nine-game winning streak to two runs, one earned, in eight innings.
Venice slowed a Cowboys’ running game that stole seven bases in eight attempts in the state semifinal against Miami Belen Jesuit. The Indians picked a runner off first, caught another attempting to steal on a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out double play and gunned down another after a pickoff. Gather stole three bases — all in the sixth inning — but they did not lead to a run.
Except for a meaningless bobble early in the infield and an error that led to what proved to be the winning run, Venice played air-tight defense, getting spectacular plays from left fielder Danny Rodriguez and Killam, the starting right fielder.
Holloway and Killam combined to allow seven hits and two walks while striking out eight in allowing the one earned run.
The Indians had seven hits, two by Holloway, and Gaither committed three errors. But Venice, who prides itself on grinding out tough at-bats, received only one walk and often flailed at the outside offerings from Cowboys’ not-overpowering starter David Majuck. They also did not work at-bats against reliever Josh Bobrowski, who issued the only free pass on the first hitter he faced.
So it came down to the little things, like getting bunts down and pushing them in the proper direction.
"We had opportunities to win," Faulkner said. "We just didn't push them across."
Seniors Scott Dubrule, Tyler Gardner, Jake Grubbs, Rylee Buckmaster, Holloway and Killam left their legacy as they accepted their silver medals and turned in their uniforms for the final time.
“Those guys have been great, they’re winners,” Faulkner said. “They stepped up all year and got us here. They played their hearts out all season long. It’s unfortunate we didn’t win. I’m very proud of my seniors and what they meant to Venice High School.”
Venice ran into a hot Gaither team with eight seniors, six who played a role in the state final and another who pitched a gem in the semifinals to get the Cowboys to the title game.
The Riverview High boys basketball team ran into a similar situation in the 8A Championship game against a Coral Springs squad loaded with seniors.
Thus, the Indians join the Rams, Bradenton Christian boys basketball, Lakewood Ranch girls basketball and Bayshore softball teams at reaching the championship game this school season and coming up just short.
Still since the start of the decade, Venice is among the elite with three state titles, a runner-up and a Final 4 appearance in five years.
And the cupboard is not bare. Mitch Donofrio, Shane Shifflett, Joey Kinker and Caleb Williams, all of whom played a major role in a 26-6 season, head the list of returners poised to make another run.
“Here we have a system,” Faulkner said. “Our system has a lot of things in it. It has to do with working out, making good grades, doing a lot of good things in our community. It all ties together to a winning program. They’ll jump back into the system, play some summer ball this year and we’ll be fighting again.”
