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Kollenbaum, Dunedin End Plant's Season, 8-2

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By LEE DIEKEMPER Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

DUNEDIN - Plant's night of misery began with a two-run homer by Dunedin's Jacob Rogers and ended when Panthers coach Dennis Braun was ejected in the sixth inning. In between Dunedin scored eight runs, defeating Plant 8-2 in the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinal Friday.

The loss ended the season for the Panthers (25-4), who recently were ranked No. 14 in USA Today's national poll.

Aside from Rogers' hot bat, it was the pitching of Falcons 6-foot-5 starter Clay Kollenbaum (7-1). The right-hander, who has signed to pitch at Jacksonville University, was simply masterful in his six innings of work. He gave up three hits and at one stretch had retired 11 of 12 Plant batters. He walked three and had 13 strikeouts, eight looking.

"I personally had not seen Kollenbaum throw," Plant assistant coach John Ramos said. "I don't know how he threw in the past, but I know how he threw tonight. And he threw well, real well.

"He was throwing with good velocity and had command of two if not three pitches. He had good bite on his curveball."

The only offense Plant mustered off of Kollenbaum came when the game was nearly out of reach. With an eight-run lead and one out, Plant got a pair of singles and Mike Lashbrook tapped a pitch back to Kollenbaum, who threw home but his catcher bobbled the ball allowing Mike Givens to score.

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