BUSHNELL, Fla. — South Sumter High School’s baseball team is off to a red-hot start, thanks in large part to the dynamic duo of senior Malakhi Boone and junior Ishmael Rodriguez. The two sluggers have been nearly unstoppable at the plate, providing an offensive spark that has the Raiders looking like a serious contender this season.

Boone, a UCF commit for football and baseball, has wasted no time making his presence felt, delivering five hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in four runs through just two games. His scorching .714 batting average is a continuation of the dominance he displayed last season, when he hit .431 with 28 hits, seven home runs, and 25 RBIs.

(Malakhi is a multi-sport athlete and excels in both football and baseball. He is committed to UCF for the fall of 2025.)

Malakhi is the type of player that makes everyone around him better. He’s not just a power hitter—he’s disciplined, has a great eye, and knows how to come through in big moments.

Not to be outdone, Ismael Rodriguez has also been on a tear, leading the team with seven hits in two games while posting a .700 batting average. The junior has matched Boone’s early-season RBI total with four, giving South Sumter a potent one-two punch in the heart of the lineup.

You can tell Ismael put in the work this offseason, and you can see it paying off. Having him hitting like this early in the season will no doubt benefit the Raiders in the coming weeks as they get to the heart of their schedule.

(South Sumter pitcher Bryson Mitchell enters his sophomore year looking for big things after a successful freshman year.)

The Raiders’ explosive offense has set the tone for what could be a special season in Bushnell. Pitchers Bryson Mitchell and Jackson Gill have done a good job to start the year off as well. Gill had 7 strikeouts in his first start of the year surrendering 2 earned runs while Mitchell has 6 striketouts to start off they year.

This is a team to keep your eyes on this season.