TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Baseball: Plant blasts Jesuit 10-1

ADVERTISEMENT

A Tribune staff report

Published: May 2, 2009

TAMPA - Friday night's Class 5A-District 10 championship game at Jefferson was a classic pitchers' duel through the first five innings. Then, Plant's offense woke up - big time.

The Panthers erupted for 10 runs in the final two innings and went on to post a 10-1 victory against Jesuit to win their second consecutive district title.

"It's special," Plant coach Dennis Braun said. "I'm as proud of this team as any team I've ever coached."

The two teams combined for six hits through the first five innings, but Plant strung together four straight to start the sixth to take control. Mychal Givens brought home the first run with a single and Jake Lowe followed with a two-run double as Plant built a 4-0 lead.

The Panthers then poured it on with six more runs in the seventh, two coming home on a Givens single and three on Stan Rowe's homer to left.

Panthers starter Sergio Pita went 62/3 innings, limiting the Tigers to a run on six hits while striking out six. Lowe recorded the final out with a strikeout, helping the Panthers (20-7) avenge two earlier losses this season to Jesuit (25-2).

Adam Adkins

Dunedin grabs fourth straight title

DUNEDIN - Defending state champs Dunedin (21-6) won its fourth straight Class 5A-District 9 title Friday night by blasting East Lake (17-10) 12-2 in five innings.

The Falcons banged out 15 hits. Alex Norris, Casey Turgeon and Mike Clarkson each went 3-for-4 and combined for seven RBIs. Alex Libby put the mercy rule into effect in the fifth with a two-run double to left center. Norris' first two hits were triples.

"It felt good, I was just seeing the ball well," Norris said. "That's what I expected from my teammates, too. We were trying to put as many runs up as possible."

Senior pitcher Ryan Reedy went all five innings for Dunedin, retiring 12 in a row at one point, and struck out seven.

Eric Horchy

Pasco holds off Nature Coast 10-9

ZEPHYRHILLS - Pasco (20-7) edged Nature Coast Tech (12-9) 10-9 for the Class 4A-District 8 title.

Pasco had a four-run lead going into the top of the seventh before singles by Justin Beetz and Eddie Castro, and a walk by Matt Adams, loaded the bases with one out. Justin Tewey drove in Beetz and Castro, and Pasco coach Ricky Giles brought in Jacob Schrader to close.

After Tommy Tombasco drove in Adams, Schrader threw a wild pitch, Tewey broke for home, and catcher Jorge Jaramillo threw to Schrader for the out.

Kenny Sanders

Share this:

MORE FROM THIS CHANNEL

• Herzog, Harvey elected to baseball Hall of Fame

• Florida-related college bowls, ticket information

• Freeman takes blame for this Bucs loss; what happens now?

• College bowl schedule

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

Loading Comments...

Email Print