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Baseball: LOL Powers Past River Ridge, 12-2

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By RICK HARMON Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 28, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Before this week, Land O' Lakes had hit only two home runs.

But the Gators got two against Zephyrhills on Tuesday and hit two more in the first inning against River Ridge on Friday as they defeated the Royal Knights 12-2 to win the Class 5A-District 7 regular-season championship and earn the No. 1 seed in next month's district tournament.

The Gators (10-4) had 14 hits and scored in every inning but the third. Curt Hilgenberg led the hit parade, going 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.

Nick Pardo (2-for-3, home run and double) and Austin Aubuchon (1-for-4) each added two RBIs. It was Pardo's second home run in as many games.

"We've been swinging the bats well the last couple of games," said Land O' Lakes coach Calvin Baisley. "We're capable of that. Sometimes hitting is contagious and slumps are contagious. All I know is when J.J. Downum is swinging the bat and is getting on base, we're a different team. And Curt does a lot for us."

Downum led off the game for the Gators with a home run over the right-field wall. In the second, he walked and scored and in the fourth, he sacrificed runners to second and third before Hilgenberg cleared the bases with a single to center.

River Ridge (9-7) only got four singles off Land O' Lakes starter Zach May.

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