Hillsborough County faced off against Pinellas County All-Stars on May 29 in Dunedin, Florida, in a high‑school baseball contest that doubled as a farewell celebration for a group of graduating seniors, with the Toronto Blue Jays serving as the event’s host.
A Senior Showcase on the Diamond
The game, staged at the Blue Jays’ spring‑training facility, ended with a decisive 10‑3 victory for Hillsborough, a result that underscored the depth of talent on the South Shore roster.
Early in the contest, Hillsborough manufactured two runs in the third inning through a timely double, a stolen base and a passed ball, setting a tone that would carry forward.
Pinellas attempted to rally in the fourth, loading the bases but failing to convert the opportunity into runs, a missed chance that kept the scoreboard in Hillsborough’s favor.
The breakthrough came when Emilio Salgado of Sickles launched a three‑run homer in the fifth, one of two career‑defining blasts he would hit during the game.
On the mound, Christian Skaggs of Lennard delivered a flawless third inning, preserving the shutout momentum and allowing his teammates to build a comfortable lead.
Mikie Locke, the Lennard catcher, also made his mark, handling the game’s rhythm behind the plate and drawing a hit‑by‑pitch that added to the offensive buzz.
Coaches from both counties, including Lennard’s Victor Martinez, had split the roster into two segments earlier in the week, ensuring that every senior could take the field and savor the final high‑school experience together.