Merritt Island Riding Strong Finish Into Playoff Stretch

Merritt Island honors their 11 seniors in grand fashion during Senior Night prior to a win over Centennial. The Mustangs will rely on this large group of seniors to lead them into the playoffs this year. *Photo from Kevin Buster Beal.

The Merritt Island Mustangs are no strangers to playoff success. The program has two state championships in its history, and last made a playoff run that deep only six years ago. Although none of the guys on the roster now were even born yet when the Mustangs won back-to-back state titles in 1999 and 2000, the 2024 team has performed at a level that would certainly make those champions proud.

Merritt Island went 19-5 in the regular season, while playing a high-caliber schedule against top competition. With the district playoffs set to begin, now is when all that experience manifests and pays off. The Mustangs carry nice momentum with them, after winning their final four games to close out the set schedule.

The team took a pair of games against the Eau Gallie Commodores, sandwiched between a win over the Melbourne Bulldogs and a thrilling, walk-off win over the Centennial Eagles on Senior Night.

*Photo from Kevin Buster Beal.

After celebrating and saluting their 11 seniors on the team with an impressive pre-game ceremony, the Mustangs capped the night off with another memory they can cherish forever by rallying back to walk-off with the 5-4 victory. Trailing 3-0 after the Eagles jumped ahead in the top of the third, senior Noah Knight evened the score with a three-run home run to right. With one out, seniors Toren Dunegan and Robert Myer both walked to put ducks on the pond for Knight, who jumped on a 1-0 offering and did not miss.

After Centennial answered back with a run in the sixth, the Mustangs showed their mettle. Myer drove in senior Romeo Tornga with an RBI single in the sixth that tied things back up, and they then loaded the bases up in the bottom of the seventh to amp up the excitement. Senior Dean Hanselman was hit by a pitch, senior Nick Wimberly was intentionally walked and then Tornga also worked himself a free pass. Senior Hudson Blank put the ball in play and caught a break, as an infield error allowed him to reach safely as Hanselman crossed the plate to win it.

The Mustangs celebrate during their spring break trip, where they went 4-0 in tournament play. *Photo from @MustangBaseball.

Finding a little luck is part of the magic this time of year, also. This is especially true when you make your own luck.

It is just another example of many instances during the season when the team stepped up to meet its biggest challenges. Merritt Island also went a perfect 4-0 at the Beach Bash Spring Break tournament, hosted by the Niceville Eagles up in the Florida Panhandle. The Mustangs defeated the hosts with a 9-3 win, and had two shutouts, including a 3-0 win over perennial-power Tate. They also won 10-6 over the Choctawhatchee Indians to finish out the tournament.

Now the real tournament begins. The team awaits its first playoff opponent to begin the district playoffs, as Merritt Island will host the winner between the Titusville Terriers and Palm Bay Pirates. Whichever it may be, they will find a dangerous opponent with an arsenal of weapons.

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