CARY, N.C. – Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) used a 10-run third inning to knock off the three-time defending champion Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.), 11-0, in the semifinal round of the 2022 National High School Invitational (NHSI) presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.

With the win, the Eagles set up an all-Florida matchup in the championship game on Saturday night against St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.).

Stoneman Douglas scored 10 runs on six hits in the third inning to blow the game open, and have now scored eight or more runs in an inning in all three of its tournament games. The 10-run frame got started with a trio of singles by Santiago Ordonez, Christian Rodriguez, and Cameron Harris, which gave the Eagles a three-run advantage. Four walks, three singles, a hit-by-pitch, and an error later, Stoneman Douglas completed its offensive onslaught and had an 11-0 lead.

Harris (3-for-3) led the offensive output for Stoneman Douglas, recording a pair of RBIs to go along with his perfect day at the plate. Rylan Lujo and Rodriguez also added two-RBI games for the Eagles, who have now had at least 10 hits in all three games of the tournament.

Jake Clemente turned in a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out five. The right-hander worked around baserunners in the early goings of the game but was able to keep the three-time defending champs at bay offensively.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Roman Anthony led off the bottom of the first with a single and advanced to scoring position on a groundout. Ordonez then followed with a single back up the middle, but Derek Curiel made a perfect throw home to nab Anthony at the plate and keep the Eagles off the board.
• Harris and Arroyo tallied back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the second for the Eagles. After a groundout and fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with two outs, Lujo singled up the middle to plate Arroyo and give Stoneman Douglas a 1-0 lead.
• Orange Lutheran put a runner in scoring position with one out in the top of the third but Clemente escaped the jam, inducing a strikeout and groundout to keep Stoneman Douglas in front by a run.
• Stoneman Douglas’ 10-run inning began when Clemente walked to lead off the third before the Eagles rattled off three straight hits to take a three-run lead. Ordonez, Rodriguez, and Harris all singled as Stoneman Douglas’ lead grew to 3-0.
• Stoneman Douglas kept adding on in the third, scoring a run on an error and then adding three more on a trio of walks as the lead became seven.
• Rodriguez and Arroyo then hit run-scoring singles and Benestad drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Eagles an 11-0 lead that they would go on to win by.

NOTABLE INFORMATION

• The NHSI title game will be the first in tournament history that features two Florida schools.
• The Eagles handed Orange Lutheran its first NHSI loss in 2,934 days, dating back to the 2014 tournament. It was the first time Orange Lutheran has been shut out at the NHSI since a 1-0 loss to Coral Springs High School (Coral Springs, Fla.) on March 26, 2014.
• The Eagles lead the NHSI in team batting average, hitting at a .500 (42-for-84) clip with five doubles and 35 RBIs.
• Harris’ three-hit day raised his NHSI batting average to a tournament-best .750 (6-for-8). The infielder also leads the tournament in hits (6) and on-base percentage (.818).
• Stoneman Douglas stole three more bases in the win, giving them a tournament-best 11 swiped bags. They are yet to be thrown out trying to steal in the tournament.

ON DECK

• Stoneman Douglas advances to the championship game of the 2022 NHSI on Saturday. The Eagles will face St. Johns Country Day, who beat Huntington Beach High School (Huntington Beach, Calif.) in the other semifinal round on Friday. The title game will be streamed live on USABaseball.com, @USABaseball on Facebook, and @USABaseballTV on YouTube.
• Orange Lutheran falls into the consolation bracket with the loss. The Lancers will wrap up the NHSI against McQuaid Jesuit (Rochester, N.Y.) on Saturday.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Stay tuned with all of the action at the 2022 National High School Invitational by following @USABEvents on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Fans and media can use #NHSI22 in their posts.