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Pasarela has the 'Wright' stuff

DIXIE SENIOR BOYS ALL-STARS

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

The Spring Hill Senior Boys All-Stars celebrate their District 6 championship Wednesday night in Bushnell. Front row (l to r): David George, Nic Pasarela, Zack Taylor, Krishen Gosine, Gabe Abbadessa, Jake Schoonover and Eric DaCosta. Back row (l to r): Coach Chris Cusker, Mason Arroyo, Tom Decotis, Coach Joe Abbadessa, Jalaun Outlaw, Joey Wright, Mike Evans and Coach Tom Decotis.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: July 1, 2009

BUSHNELL - As the rain poured down throughout the day in Hernando County, Joe Abbadessa remained confident his team would play in Bushnell Wednesday night.

The way the Spring Hill Senior (age 14) Boys All-Stars head coach figured, District 6 Tournament host Sumter would do everything in its power to get the game in that day.

Dixie pitching rules dictated that Spring Hill ace Joey Wright¸ who had defeated Sumter on Tuesday, couldn't throw again until Thursday.

The weather proved kind enough at Kenny Dixon Sports Complex, thus Spring Hill and Sumter went at it without much issue.

Wright couldn't pitch, and didn't have to. Nic Pasarela proved a more than capable replacement, allowing just one hit in a complete-game effort as Spring Hill downed Sumter in six innings, 12-2.

"I knew I had to come out and pitch my best game," said Pasarela, who finished 3-0 in the tournament. "I came out trying to get my curveball to be good. I knew they couldn't hit the junk that well.

"I knew they wanted to come in (Wednesday night) so they wouldn't have to see Joey again. It feels good because they didn't think I was good. This was my best game in districts."

The right-hander only permitted a single by Hayden Fields in the top of first and three walks while striking out 10, including six out of the last seven batters he faced behind what he called an "adrenaline rush."

"He was lights out," Abbadessa said. "I didn't see one hard-hit ball all game. He changed speeds, hit his spots and had them off-balance all night. That's a good team and he dominated tonight."

Total team effort

Pasarela also had an impressive performance at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk. As a result his courtesy runner, Jalaun Outlaw, scored four times.

Meanwhile Wright still managed to make a major contribution, putting in a 3-for-4 effort with two RBI and two runs scored.

Those two paced a 12-hit onslaught, with eight of those knocks coming across the first two frames as Spring Hill (5-1) opened up a 7-1 advantage over Sumter (4-2).

"We were determined to win because everybody was underestimating us," Wright said. "They said we were going to lose. We were determined to hit the ball tonight.

"…It feels good. We were underdogs. No one thought we'd even make it to the championship game and now we're going to states."

That state spot was already assured, since the top two teams from this tournament will compete in Marianna starting July 18.

Yet Spring Hill still put together what Abbadessa called "a total team effort." Tom Decotis had a RBI triple and Mason Arroyo a run-scoring single in the three-run bottom of the first.

Zack Taylor chipped in a RBI double while Eric DaCosta and Wright drove in a run apiece on base hits in a four-run second.

Wright had a hustle RBI double in the fourth and scored the walk-off run in the sixth when he stole third and drew a poor throw that went into left field.

"It means a lot," Abbadessa said of winning the title. "It's my first one. This is great to come out and get one done with this group of kids. That makes it special, especially since a lot of people underestimated us. They thought it was Sumter's title from the get-go and I think these kids took it personal."

Now Spring Hill hopes that beating such a stacked Sumter club is a sign of things to come.

"I'm just happy we won," Pasarela said. "This (Sumter) team was supposed to be really good and win states. So hopefully that gives us confidence going into states."

SPRING HILL 12, SUMTER 2 (6 INN.)
123 456 R H E
SUM 010 100 -- 2 1 3
SH 340 203 -- 12 12 1
SUM– Simmons, Ray (1) and Hayes.
SH – Pasarela and DaCosta.
W – Pasarela (3-0). L – Simmons.
2B – Taylor, Wright (SH).
3B – Decotis (SH).
HR – none.
Records – Sumter (4-2), Spring Hill (5-1).

DISTRICT 6 SENIOR BOYS (AGE 14) TOURNAMENT RESULTS
at Bushnell's Kenny Dixon Sports Complex (double elimination)
06-26:
Spring Hill 6, Hernando 3
San Antonio 13, Ridge Manor 1
Sumter 12, Oak Griner 0
06-27:
Hernando 15, Ridge Manor 3
Spring Hill 10, San Antonio 5
Sumter 10, Wesley Chapel 0
06-28:
San Antonio 14, Wesley Chapel 4
Oak Griner 11, Hernando 7
Sumter 5, Spring Hill 4
06-29:
Spring Hill 7, San Antonio 1
Sumter 15, Oak Griner 10
06-30:
Spring Hill 5, Sumter 2
07-01:
(Championship)
Spring Hill 12, Sumter 2 (6 inn.)

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at 352-544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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