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5-Run 5th By Palatka Ends Pasco's Season

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By CRISTINA LEDRA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 11, 2008

PALATKA - Pasco thought it had enough highlights to win the decisive Game 3 of the Class 4A-Region 3 baseball final series at Palatka, but too many lowlights gave Palatka (24-9) a 9-6 win and its first berth in the state tourney since 1986.

"We had the best team," Pasco coach Ricky Giles said. "We just played dumb. We did dumb things and we got caught up into the crowd Friday night and that kind of took us out. ... We had to make the plays and they're just there thinking about it. The Panthers made the plays and did what they had to do."

The Pirates (26-7) went back to Dustin Brown on the mound after pulling him after four batters in Game 2 Friday night. Brown was the first of six Pasco pitchers used in the Game 2 loss. Aaron Brandt and Henry Johnson combined for the Game 1 win Friday afternoon.
Palatka scored four runs in the third inning due in part to a misplayed fly ball in the outfield and an error.

Then Pasco's Josh Johnson hit a three-run homer to center in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 4. The Pirates' first run was a solo home run from Brennan Allen in the third.

Jacob Schrader hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to give Pasco the 6-4 lead.

Brown pitched four complete innings and faced three batters in the fifth, giving up two doubles and a walk that scored two runs to tie the game at 6, before Pasco put Brandt in.

Palatka's Brandon Bennett then hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to center field, to give Palatka the 9-6 lead.

The Panthers' No. 3 pitcher, Andrew McClain, threw the complete-game win. Palatka coach Matt McCool thought about using him Friday but changed his mind. The Panthers used four pitchers total in the three-game series while Pasco used seven, and Brandt, Brown and Henry Johnson twice each.

"We would have hoped it helped us but with Brown coming back and throwing as well as he did and they only had to use one other guy, that means a lot," McCool said. "That's why I said Friday it was so important that Brandon Lee closed the game two for us. I hate it in a way because a lot of guys didn't get to play and we've got a week off but I'll take it."

Reporter Cristina Ledra can be reached at (813) 948-4203 or cledra@tampatrib.com.

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