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Liberty County Breaks Out

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: July 14, 2008

RIDGE MANOR – Host Ridge Manor's run in the Dixie Youth League Baseball AAA Majors (ages 11-12) State Tourney concluded Monday night.
Ridge Manor, which hung tough for 3 1/2 innings Saturday before falling Spring Hill American, 13-3, battled back Sunday for a wild come-from-behind win against Wewahitchka, 8-6.
That second-round win snapped a 15-game losing skein in this age division going back to 2001.
But on Monday night, Ridge Manor (1-2 overall, 1-2 states) ran into Liberty County's 1-2 punch of right-hander Hunter Jacobs and catcher Chuck Morris.
Jacobs faced 17 batters across five innings, yielding three walks against nine strikeouts while spinning the tourney's first no-hitter to lead his team past Ridge Manor, 12-0.
Liberty County, which had been handcuffed to single runs in its first two tourney tilts, collected eight hits.
Shortstop Hayden Swier and Morris each rapped two hits and combined to drive in five runs as Liberty County (4-1 overall, 2-1 states) faces Avon Park at 6 p.m. Tuesday in another elimination game.
For its part, Avon Park stayed alive Monday thanks to a 4-3 triumph over Wahneta.
The key to the win was the early offense said Liberty County Head Coach Steve Swier.
"We hadn't been hitting the ball," indicated Coach Swier. "So we took some extra batting practice today trying to gear up for tonight's game.
"I thought the first inning was huge," he recalled. "It was huge to get a couple early runs. And then we finally turned the order around and it helped. The guys that hadn't been hitting, hit today. I'm proud of how hard they worked to get ready."

Early offense

Perhaps the tone of the game was set on the second swing. A routine grounder to third off Jacobs' bat was dropped at first base. It marked the first of five Ridge Manor errors. Meanwhile, Liberty County was perfect on its 19 chances on defense.
Hayden Swier followed with the first of two hits followed by an error by the centerfielder permitting Jacobs to score, 1-0.
A subsequent wild pitch off starter/loser Austin Sullivan was followed by a passed ball allowing Swier to score, 2-0.
In the second, Garrett Swier walked, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third before scoring on another passed ball, 3-0.
Jacob Phinney, Lee Hambright and Jacobs rapped back-to-back-to-back singles in the third, 4-0.
With one out, Morris crushed a 1-1 Sullivan pitch over left-center field fence, 7-0.
Monroe Hinson reached on Ridge Manor's third error in the fourth and scored two batters later on Noah Davis's fielder's choice, 8-0.
In a 4-run fifth off relievers Matthew Aske and Bobby Smith, Hayden Swier and Pittman cracked 2-run doubles, 12-0.
On the hill, Jacobs appeared to cruise despite permitting free passes to Logan Buckner (first), John Bryant (third) and Sullivan (fifth). He retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced featuring six strikeouts.
"Hunter settled into a groove," remarked Coach Swier. "He works in and out and up and down. He's one of the few kids in this age group that does not throw a curve. He relies on a change-up. He did a great a job spotting his pitches."
"I started kinda slow," said the 12-year-old Jacobs. "I threw more strikes as the game went on."
What was the key?
"A lot of people who hadn't been hitting," he said. "hit today."
"We wanted to jump out quickly," added the 12-year-old Hayden Swier. "We still could have played a little better."
Morris had a backseat to Jacobs' no-no.
"He started off not so good," recalled the 12-year-old Morris. "I thought blue was squeezing us a little bit early. But as the game went on, Hunter got stronger."
And the homer?
"I knew it (was gone) the moment I hit it," said Morris.

Liberty County 12, Ridge Manor 0 (5 Innings)
123 45 R H E
LC 214 14 -- 12 8 0
RM 000 30 -- 0 0 5
LC – Jacobs and Morris.
RM – Sullivan, Aske (5), Smith (3) and Carter, Aske (3), Avalos (5).
W – Jacobs. L – Sullivan.
2B – H. Swier, Pittman (LC).
HR – Morris (LC).
Records – Liberty County (4-1 overall, 2-1 states), Ridge Manor (1-2 overall, 1-2 states).

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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