Mitchell Can't Hold Onto 6-Run Lead

TAMPA - There was really only one way the Mitchell baseball team could look at Friday's loss at Gaither and that was as a learning experience.

The Mustangs are 1-1 in district play headed into tonight's district game against Sickles.

On Friday, Mitchell had a huge first inning that included a grand slam from Sean Howard. The Mustangs scored six runs in the first inning but eventually lost the game, 9-6.

"I think we lost our focus," Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox said. "We really did. We had successes and failures throughout the game and we have to stay focused. We have to be more mature than that. We're an older baseball team. We have a lot of seniors, a lot of juniors."

After Mitchell scored the six runs in the first inning, it appeared the game might end early because Gaither was struggling at the plate.

But the Cowboys chipped away at the lead, scoring one run in the third, two in the fourth, five in the fifth and one in the sixth.

The Mustangs also committed three errors and were without starting shortstop Ryan Garton, who missed the game following an ejection earlier in the week.

After winning two games in the preseason, Mitchell is 2-2 in the regular season, netting back-to-back shutout wins against Countryside and Sunlake in between an opening-day loss to Wesley Chapel and the loss to Gaither.

Another bright spot the Mustangs found in the Gaither game was the amount of offense they amounted. Mitchell had eight hits.

"I'm happy with our bats because we haven't really been hitting that well," Wilcox said.

Kevin Games, with 12 at-bats, is hitting .333 and Anthony Ritz, with 10 at-bats, is at .300.

So far the Mustangs believe they have a lot to look forward to, but it might take some development as the year goes on before they are playing their best.

Mitchell only had one district win all season last year and already has matched that four games into the season.

"We've got good team chemistry, good pitching," Wilcox said. "We have all the components. Everyone has to do their small part and I'm real happy with what I'm seeing and I'm real excited about this year.

"The way I look at it, we've won two games this week - two out of three. Gaither's a good baseball team and they did a good job of staying in the baseball game and finishing the game."