It was the regular season finale at Shea Maurer Field, and it didn’t get much bigger than this.
In a battle of the top two teams in Southwest Florida, St. John Neumann, the second-ranked team in Class 1A, hosted Bishop Verot, ranked fifth in the entire state, according to the FHSAA. It was a true clash of heavyweights—and only one would head into the postseason with bragging rights.
That team was Bishop Verot.
The Vikings jumped on the Celtics early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone. Head coach Casey Scott said his team came in with a sense of urgency.
“We knew we had to get out fast,” Scott said. “I was pretty sure they were going with an opener, so for us to get on that before they got to their big guy—that was important. We were fortunate enough to be able to score some runs.”
Junior Joey Lawson helped power the offense with a home run, but also shined on the mound—tossing his third no-hitter of the season.
“It feels great,” Lawson said. “All season we’ve been playing good baseball. Today was just another day like that.”
St. John Neumann’s only run came in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Gus Fusco, but the Vikings’ defense and dominant pitching proved too much.
The game ended by mercy rule, with Bishop Verot locking in an 11-1 win and rolling into the postseason with momentum.
“It was just important for us to finish the season strong and roll into districts,” Scott said. “We had an outstanding regular season, but now everybody’s 0-0. It’s good for us to play well down the stretch.”
Lawson credited the team’s preparation and chemistry for their consistent success.
“We’re there every day—Monday through Saturday,” he said. “The amount of preparation we put in just lets us go out there and do what we do. It works.”
He also admitted he tries not to overthink things, even on a night like this.
“Don’t let all the noise distract you. Just block it all out and go do your thing,” he said.
Scott praised his junior ace not just for the highlight moments, but for the work ethic that makes them possible.
“Just Joey being Joey,” he said. “Everybody sees the highlights, but the work he puts in behind the scenes to be successful like he is on game night is really impressive. I’m happy for him and for the whole team.”
Both teams now look ahead to the postseason. The district tournaments begin April 14, and both Bishop Verot and St. John Neumann have secured first-round byes.
“Just keep winning. Survive and advance,” he said. “Eventually, you win a state championship. That’s the goal.”