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Hernando Today

Spring Hill Stunned

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

The Florida State Champions, Spring Hill American AAA Majors (ages 11-12), guided by Head Coach Shawn Laferty were eliminated Tuesday night after two games in the Dixie World Series in Georgia.

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: August 6, 2008

Having gone into the Dixie Youth League AAA Majors World Series with high hopes, Tuesday night at the George Harris Baseball Complex in Covington, Ga., the Spring Hill American team (ages 11-12) shockingly lost its second straight game of the tournament to South Carolina, 3-0.

The loss, coupled with Monday night's 8-3 loss to Mississippi, eliminated the Hernando County club from the double-elimination event.

South Carolina scored two runs in the first inning and added a single run in the third on a home run while holding Spring Hill scoreless.

Vito Tambasco went the distance on the mound for Spring Hill (9-5 overall, 0-2 series) and Head Coach Shawn Laferty said he pitched well.

"He (Vito) threw 81 pitches and he pitched great, we just couldn't get any timely hitting for him," explained Laferty.

The Spring Hill club also never had more than one hit during the game and hit into two costly double plays early on.

"In the first and the third (innings) we hit into double plays that were just rally killers," said Laferty. "They were hard hit balls, but they were tailor made double play balls."

Laferty also thought nerves had a lot to do with the trouble Spring Hill had.

"The first night was just error city," remarking on the 8-3 loss to Mississippi where Spring Hill made six errors.

"We had way too many mental errors. But we played great (Tuesday)," recalled Laferty. "It was tough baseball, but when you don't get any timely hits, there's nothing you can do."
The Spring Hill skipper, who made his first appearance in a Dixie League World Series this year, thought just being in the tournament was helpful.
"I think you need to get to these tournaments and maybe learn how to lose before you can win one," reflected Laferty.
He also said losing the first game in a double elimination tournament was a killer for his team.
"It's a lot tougher losing that first game," he said. "There were a lot of nerves involved here. Uncharacteristic things happened to us. And I'll be honest; things happened that I haven't seen this team do in the last two years."
He also said that next year his goal is to return with this team to another World Series.
"I think with these kids, who knows, we may come back here next year and do better," added Laferty.

Dixie Youth League
AAA Majors World Series
Tournament Scoreboard Recap

08-04:
Mississippi 8, Spring Hill American 3
Texas 3, South Carolina 2
Troup County, Ga. 4, Tennessee 2
North Carolina 8, Virginia 3
Alabama 10, Arkansas 0
Louisiana 7, Georgia 6

08-05:
South Carolina 3, SH American 0
Tennessee 15, Virginia 2
Georgia 8, Arkansas 5
Alabama 9, Louisiana 5
North Carolina 13, Troup County, Ga. 9
Mississippi 8, Texas 1

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