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Baseball: Pasco's Big Bats Strike Again

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 6, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - Getting big hits hasn't been a problem for Pasco High this season. And it wasn't Friday night at Wiregrass Ranch.

The Pirates got a 2-run home run from Brennan Allen and a grand slam from Jorge Jaramillo as Pasco defeated the Bulls 7-1 in Class 4A-District 8 action. Pasco (7-1, 6-0 in 4A-8) has a one-game lead over Zephyrhills and is two games ahead of Wiregrass Ranch (6-2, 4-2) and Sunlake (4-3, 4-2). The Seahawks beat Nature Coast 5-1 Friday.

Pasco made the Bulls pay for their fielding mistakes with three unearned runs as Wiregrass was charged with five errors in the game.

"We've been swinging the bats," said Pasco coach Ricky Giles, whose Pirates are averaging almost 12 runs a game. "The home runs kind of opened the door a little bit. That's the way these guys are playing."

Pasco took a 1-0 lead in the third on a Josh Johnson single with two outs. He stole second and scored when Cole Stancil reached on a throwing error. In the fourth, Jaramillo reached on an error to lead-off the inning and Allen followed with is second home run of the season, a towering blast to left field off Bulls starter Chad Witkowski.

In the fifth inning, Trey Giles led off with a single and Josh Johnson reached on an error. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch but before the next pitch, Johnson and Wiregrass shortstop Phillip Keys had words and Keys was ejected for language. It was a rough night for Keys. At that point, Keys had the Bulls only hit of the game but had been charged with four errors.

"No warning was given but [Keys] was ejected for language," said Wiregrass coach A.J. Leppla. "If he gets suspended, I'll appeal it."

Witkowski got Stancil to strike out but hit Jacob Schrader to load the bases with one out. With a 0-1 count, Jaramillo pulled an inside pitch down the left-field line and over the fence.

"Witkowski said the pitch Jamarillo hit was on the inside corner," Leppla said. "He just hit an outstanding pitch."

Witkowski, only a sophomore, probably deserved a better fate. He only gave up four hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out six and no walks.

"[Witkowski] is a great pitcher," Leppla said. "He's only a sophomore and has a bright future."

On the other side, Pasco starter Christopher Dious (2-1) went the distance, giving up a run on three hits. He struck out four and walked one on 86 pitches, only one full count.

"Our pitching is getting better," Giles said. "[Dious] is getting better. He's hitting spots with more confidence. He's doing a great job. When we can get that kind of pitching, we can be a little tough [to beat]."

Pasco 001 240 0—7 7 4
Wiregrass Ranch 000 001 0—1 3 5

W—Dious (2-1). L – Witkowski (0-1). 2B – McSwain (P), Keys (W). HR – Allen, Jaramillo (P). R – P 7-1, 6-0 4A-8, 5-1 Sunshine Athletic Conference; W – 6-2, 4-2 4A-8, 5-2 SAC.

Tribune correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@gmail.com

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