- May 1, 2026
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Extra-base hits came at a premium for the Sailors this season. So did home runs, which were rare occurrences without sluggers in their lineup.
Lacking power at the plate, they sought a different means to be a winning team. “Gritty” thus became their approach to the game, per Mark Metcalf.
“That’s what’s been the story all year — find a way or make a way,” said the senior infielder.
No matter the way, no matter the margin, the Sailors were happy to add wins to their resume whenever possible.
But grit failed them in the end. With their season on the line, they never found a way.
No. 2 seed Sarasota High baseball (19-8) was ousted by No. 7 seed Plant City (17-10) in the FHSAA Class 7A-Region 2 quarterfinals, losing 3-1, on its own diamond April 24. The Sailors carried a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning, but promptly surrendered three runs to the Raiders.
That left the hosts with three outs to force extra innings. On a night when their bats had gone quiet — producing just three hits — they couldn’t do so.
It marks the fifth time in six seasons Sarasota has failed to record a win in the regional tournament, with 2025’s regional semifinalist finish being the sole exception.
“They’re a hard-working group,” said coach Sterling Pell before the regional quarterfinal. “They want to win, they want to learn (and) they want to be taught. They’re eager to get out here every single day, and that’s refreshing for me.”
Months before its early postseason exit, Sarasota thrived.
Pell oversaw an 8-0 start in his first year at the helm. Unbeaten in February, the Sailors defeated opponents by an average of 7.6 runs per game while allowing no more than one run on five occasions during that stretch.
Former coach Greg Mulhollen had stepped down before the season because of health-related concerns. That opened the door for Pell, one of his assistants, to toss in his resume for the job.
It became his first high school gig since serving as an assistant for Cardinal Gibbons baseball from 2007-17. More recently, he fine-tuned his tutelage at the NJCAA Division I level from 2021-25 as an assistant for Chipola College baseball.
He saw promise when assessing the Sailors’ situation before the 2026 season.
“The talent on the field was definitely easy to see, and the camaraderie between them,” Pell said. “We have 13 seniors… you could tell it was led by them. You could just step in, observe, look at what they’re doing and see where you fit in.”
The winning start that ensued was a product of hot hitting. Three or four Sailors batted over .400 during that stretch, per Pell.
Sarasota’s top-three hitters from 2025 all returned in the forms of senior shortstop/second baseman Patrick Drymon, Metcalf and junior infielder/right-hander Braedon Mackay. They had posted batting averages of .378, .361 and .309, respectively, that year.
As a junior, Mackay — committed to Florida — improved to .350 at the plate. Metcalf stayed steady at .360 this season while Drymon dropped dramatically to .208.
Kole Ayrault was a revelation. After contributing three hits and four RBIs in 2025, the first baseman/outfielder led the Sailors with 32 hits and batted .390 as a senior.
“I’ve just been keeping it simple,” Ayrault said. “Coach Pell has helped me a lot — he really believes in me. Keep my approach, stay with line drives, trust in myself and trust in God.”
A heap of injuries to the pitching staff, though, put a strain on the Sailors. Four or five arms that the team depended on in the past, per Pell, were unavailable at points throughout this campaign.
The loss of Cesar Garmendia was a particularly big blow.
Injured in his first appearance of 2026, the senior right-hander never returned to the mound. He was their top option as a junior with a 1.02 ERA across 54.2 innings pitched — best among those with 10 or more appearances.
When all was said and done, the Sailors had 10 different players throw a pitch this season. Freshman left-hander Mason Moeller threw the most innings of anyone en route to a 3.12 ERA.
“We had some guys go down. It's next man up. Here’s the opportunity for you,” Pell said. “That’s basically the way it goes… You just see who’s got the hot hand and roll with it.”
Sarasota stood tall at 18-4 on April 8, but lost four of its final five games, including to Venice on April 17 in the 7A-8 district championship.
In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, the eight-time state champions still have yet to claim a district title. They haven’t reached the regional finals in that time, either.
Pitching held down the fort against Plant City for six innings in the regional quarterfinal. That granted Sarasota time to be "gritty" and build a lead.
But after a sacrifice fly from Mackay sent Metcalf across the plate in the first inning, no more Sailors would score. There was no last-ditch rally in the bottom of the seventh.
They’ve found their way into an early offseason.
