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2026 FL Preseason Classic & Open: Day 2 Recap

February 5, 2026
Prep Baseball Florida
Prep Baseball Florida Staff

The 2026 Florida Preseason Classic and Preseason Open will take place February 3-7 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Both events feature ten teams from around the state of Florida kicking off their 2026 high school season with two Preseason games.

Preseason Classic - Day 2 Recap

The First Academy 4, Doral Academy 0

The First Academy delivered a dominant pitching performance and steady offense to blank Doral Academy 4-0 on Wednesday at IMG Academy.

Four Royals pitchers combined for a complete-game shutout, allowing no hits and keeping the Firebirds off the scoreboard entirely. Tyler Arafet got the start, tossing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Ryon Smith, Josh Garcia, and Gio Aponte-Oneil each followed with shutout relief innings.


The Royals broke through in the top of the third inning, capitalizing on a passed ball to score the first run before Tyler Arafet added an RBI single to center field for a 2-0 lead. They tacked on two more runs later to secure the comfortable margin.


Offensively, The First Academy piled up nine hits, led by Jaxson Wells, Isaiah Comas, and Kinon Bastian with two apiece. Tyler Arafet and Colton Arafet each drove in one run.

Doral Academy starter Andy Espinoza battled through three and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and two unearned runs while striking out three and walking two, but the Firebirds' offense couldn't generate any traction against the relentless Royals' pitching.

Venice 3, Plant City 0

Venice showcased elite pitching depth and a clutch late-inning surge to shut out Plant City 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Three Indians pitchers combined for a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit while racking up 11 strikeouts. Carter Cox started strong on the mound, tossing three perfect innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Macade Carey and RJ Shields followed with scoreless relief.


Plant City matched the strikeout total at 11 but couldn't generate any offense against Venice's arms. Jake Carbaugh started for the Raiders, striking out seven in four shutout innings.


The game's only scoring came in a decisive top-of-the-seventh rally for Venice. Jonathan Mauro crushed a solo home run to left field to break the deadlock, followed by Zachary Allaire's sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single to left from August Backman—each plating one run to seal the 3-0 victory.


Offensively, Maddox Volk led the Indians with a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate.

Preseason Open - Day 2 Recap

Braddock 14, ABF Academy 7

The Braddock Bulldogs erupted for 14 runs on 14 hits, overpowering ABF Academy 14-7 on Wednesday afternoon.

Braddock jumped out to a commanding lead early, scoring in the top of the first inning through a combination of a fielder's choice groundout from Dayron Santos, a double to center field by Michael Sanchez, a single to center from Adam Sarmiento, a groundout by Tyler Rodriguez, and a balk by the Cowboys' pitcher—plating multiple runs to set the tone. They added more in the second on a single to the right side from Santos and a double-play groundout by Sarmiento, then tacked on another in the third via Gianmarco Fuentes' double to left field and Adrian Nuñez's single to center.


Nuñez starred at the plate for the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with singles in the third, fifth, and sixth innings while driving in two runs. Fuentes, Nuñez, and Santos each notched two RBIs, and Juan Chacon contributed two hits in four at-bats.

On the mound, Alvaro Perez started for Braddock, allowing one hit and two runs (one earned) over one inning with two strikeouts and three walks. Derek Betencourt provided solid relief, tossing three innings while giving up three hits and two runs with two strikeouts and three walks.

ABF Academy showed resilience with 13 walks and four stolen bases, including three by leadoff hitter Richny Frans (who also went 2-for-5 to pace their offense).

Bloomingdale 9, St. John Neumann 3

Bloomingdale was triumphant over St. John Neumann 9-4 on Wednesday night at the Preseason Open.

Bloomingdale got on the board in the top of the second inning after Trey Baker scored after tagging up, Mason Johnson singled, scoring two runs, and Cesar Campos singled, scoring one run.


Bloomingdale scored five runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning. Isaiah Perez singled, scoring one run.

Luke Long earned the win for Bloomingdale. The righty surrendered two hits and one run over four innings, striking out three and walking one. Luke Parrish took the loss for St. John Neumann Eagles. The hurler went two innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking three.

Cole Travers, Luke Parrish, Darien Kester, Roman Howery, and Shaun Maradona each collected hits for St. John Neumann.


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