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Givens, Plant roll past Durant, 11-0

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: April 6, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Plant High senior ace Mychal Givens kept everything down in windy conditions Monday. His fastball, his slider and especially the Durant offense, as Givens pitched a complete-game one-hitter, leading Plant (13-5) to an 11-0 win against the Cougars.

"When he is sharp," Panthers coach Dennis Braun said, "he is pretty good. And today he kept everything down."

Givens struck out seven in the game, including two in the seventh inning. Givens also helped his cause at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.

The senior said his ability to keep the ball low in the strike zone was key, but more than his performance he was excited for his team as the win marked the first time the Panthers have beaten a left-hander all season. Durant (10-7) starting pitcher Austin Buck only allowed three earned runs but was tagged with the loss.

"This was an important game for me to win," Givens said. "But it was more important for our team to get a win against a lefty."

The Panthers took little time to get ahead, scoring three runs in the first inning, including an RBI single by Stan Rowe, who also had a double in the fifth inning and scored.

JEFFERSON 8,

NEWSOME 0

Jefferson senior right-hander Tim Blackmon tossed a five-hit shutout. Jefferson senior Chad Taylor was 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Second baseman Elnar Munez also had two hits for the Dragons and scored two runs.

WHARTON 16,

LENNARD 3

The Wildcats scored five runs in the fifth and eight in the sixth in a six-inning game. Senior Gabriel Collazo had a three-run home run for Wharton. The Wildcats had 10 stolen bases in the game, including two from Collazo and four from Joseph Evans, who also doubled and scored three runs. David Langhan earned the win, striking out seven and allowing three runs in six innings.

PLANT CITY 4,

RIVERVIEW 2

Plant City earned its second win of the tournament, defeating the host Sharks behind a two-home run third inning. The Raiders got on the scoreboard in the third inning with home runs from K'Shawn Smith and Ross Kip. Jeffrey Hippler hit a homer for the Raiders in the fifth inning. Kip (1-6) earned his first win on the season, allowing three hits and striking out six. For the Sharks, catcher Brett Clements hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.

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