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Hernando Today

Shining Moment

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By JIM REDMILE

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 20, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Nature Coast improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 within the county borders after defeating visiting Springstead at home Friday night, 7-2.

The main reason was Travis Murray. Murray went the full seven innings for Nature Coast recording nine strikeouts and two walks, and giving up three hits including a second-inning solo home run to Springstead's Mitchell Jacobs.

He also helped himself at the plate going 4-for-4 including a double.

"He did awesome tonight," said the Sharks' first-year Head Coach Bob Shepard. "He's nursing a sore ankle for the last couple of weeks, showed real great senior leadership tonight, he gutted it out; Travis did a great job."

Quick start

Nature Coast jumped out to an early 2-0 first-inning lead.

Anthony Demeo started the game off for the Sharks with a double. Brandon DeRespiris (three runs, walk) drew a base-on-balls and Murray had his first hit of the game. Lefty rightfielder Chris Jones then singled to drive in two runs.

Springstead answered with a two-run second inning featuring a line-drive home run by Jacobs.

Murray gave up two walks in the Eagles' biggest uprising, but found his rhythm in the third.

"At first I didn't have real good control of my pitches," said Murray. "At the end, I had more control.

"I have to keep the ball down. I let one up, and it got hit."

Murray struck out the side in the fourth inning and gave up only one hit after the second.

Brett Maggard replaced Eagle starter/loser Bryan Nicolini in the fifth inning, recording three strikeouts, a balk and a hit batsman.

Nature Coast scored in the third, fourth and sixth innings behind Murray's hits in the 7-2 final.

"This team's got a lot of guts," said Shepard. "We expect to compete, to battle it out each and every night with everybody we play."

"No less than last year," commented Shepard on this year's expectations. "We're looking at what we did last year and trying to repeat. We were second in the districts last year, so no less than that. Our boys work real hard in practice. Stay with it and be patient, and good things will happen."

Nature Coast 7, Springstead 2
123 456 7 R H E
SPG 020 000 0 -- 2 3 2
NCT 201 301 0 -- 7 9 2
SPG - Nicolini, Maggard (5) and Ambrosio.
NCT - Murray and Adams.
W - Murray (1-0). L - Nicolini (0-1).
2B - Demeo, Murray, Derespiris (NCT).
3B - none.
HR - Jacobs, 1 (SPG).
Records - Springstead (0-1 overall, 0-1 HCAC), Nature Coast (2-0 overall, 1-0 HCAC).

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