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Tale of two sluggers

DIXIE AAA MAJORS ALL-STARS

Hernando Today photo by CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Spring Hill American's Scott Dwyer hit a three-run home run in the first inning and threw two scoreless innngs in his team's 5-0 victory Thursday over Wesley Chapel.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: July 2, 2009

SPRING HILL - One came into the Dixie AAA Majors (ages 11-12) All-Stars District 6 Tournament buried near the bottom of his team's lineup; the other overshadowed by the guy who hits in front of him.

Yet Spring Hill National's P.J. Blackwood and Spring Hill American's Scott Dwyer each took their star turns Thursday night at Anderson Snow Sports Complex.

With both host teams trying to survive yet another elimination game, and inch closer to one of the tournament's three state berths, Blackwood and Dwyer made swift impacts.

Moving on up

Blackwood, who already hit two home runs from the ninth spot in the batting order earlier in the tournament, smacked a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning against Oak Griner.

He added a two-run bomb in the third, as Spring Hill National rolled to an 11-1 victory in 3 1/2 innings.

"After the first three games, I looked at some stats and stuff and saw my number nine hitter had two home runs," Spring Hill National Head Coach Al Sorrentino said. "I moved him up to fifth and obviously he liked it.

"I moved Thomas (Sorrentino) to third, between the two of their bats and other guys chipping in, it was good."

Thomas Sorrentino had a double in front of Blackwood in the first. Frankie Gomez and Johb Centella threw two innings apiece, holding Oak Griner to just one hit and combining for nine strikeouts.

Blackwood felt his initial blast Thursday "got us all psyched up and we just kept hitting," but isn't necessarily trying to play the role of hero.

"When I get in the box, I don't want to hit a home run," Blackwood said. "I want to get a base hit. If I try to hit one (home run), I'll get out. I'm just patient."

He hardly possesses the classic frame of a power hitter, and said he only hit three homers in the entire regular season. So why the sudden long-ball barrage?

"All these kids go from the regular season in their league, where they're lucky to practice once a week, to now where they're practicing everyday for 2 1/2 weeks," Coach Sorrentino said. "You can't help but get better."

Picking up the slack

Just moments after Blackwood put Spring Hill National on top for good, Dwyer did the same for Spring Hill American in a 5-0 win over Wesley Chapel.

When Sean Nascimento and John Peloro each worked walks to start the bottom of the first, a 3-0 edge appeared inevitable with superstar slugger Vito Tambasco coming to the plate.

However, Tambasco grounded out to the pitcher, passing the baton to the cleanup man Dwyer.

He later admitted to wondering if he could match up to Tambasco as he stepped into the box, and certainly did for at least one at-bat, driving the ball far over the left-field fence.

"He left a change-up high and I kept my eye on it," Dwyer said.

It proved doubly meaningful for him considering he was also the starting pitcher, and he said he felt comfortable on the mound with what ended up being a 4-0 lead thanks to Michael Ivers' RBI single later in the first.

Dwyer only threw two innings, allowing two hits and striking out one, before giving way to Steven Woop for the final four frames.

"That set the pace," Spring Hill American Head Coach Vito Tambasco said of Dwyer's homer. "It was big. It allowed me to get him out of the game and save his innings.

"He's been phenomenal. The job we asked him to do was protect Vito and he has. Vito had a bad game at the bat (0-for-3), but Scotty picked up the slack."

The two Spring Hill coaches, Tambasco and Sorrentino, each noted that their pitching staffs lined up nicely coming out of Thursday's action. Tambasco credited Woop for an outstanding job eating up innings.

Both Spring Hill squads are now a win away from clinching a spot in the state tournament starting July 18 in Mulberry.

At 6 p.m. Friday night, Spring Hill National (3-1) will take on undefeated San Antonio, while Spring Hill American (3-1) plays Bushnell.

SPRING HILL AMERICAN 5, WESLEY CHAPEL 0
123 456 R H E
WC 000 000 -- 0 3 0
SH 400 01X -- 5 5 2
WC – Caraballo-Vargas, Faddoul (1) and Pichardo.
SH – Dwyer, Woop (3) and Kimble, Ivers (3), Kimble (5), Ivers (6).
W – Dwyer. L – Caraballo-Vargas.
2B – Nascimento, Peloro (SHA).
3B – none.
HR – Dwyer (SHA).
Records – Wesley Chapel (2-2), Spring Hill American (3-1).

DIXIE YOUTH LEAGUE BASEBALL DISTRICT 6 AAA MAJORS (AGES 11-12) TOURNAMENT RESULTS
at Spring Hill's Anderson Snow Sports Complex (double elimination)

06-27:
Spring Hill American 7, Spring Hill National 5
San Antonio 1, Hernando 0 (11 Inns.)
Wesley Chapel 11, Ridge Manor 0
Bushnell 14, South Lake 10
Oak Griner 5, Wildwood 3
Sumter – received a bye

06-29:
Oak Griner 7, Sumter 6
Spring Hill National 10, Hernando 9
South Lake 26, Ridge Manor 2(4 Inns.)
San Antonio 3, Spring Hill American 2
Bushnell 16, Wesley Chapel 4

06-30:
Spring Hill American 14, Wildwood 4
Wesley Chapel 5, Sumter 4
Bushnell 11, Oak Griner 1
Spring Hill National 6, South Lake 5 (8 Inns.)
San Antonio – bye.

07-01:
Games rained out.

07-02:
Spring Hill National 11, Oak Griner 1 (3 1/2 Inns.)
Spring Hill American 5, Wesley Chapel 0
San Antonio 7, Bushnell 1

07-03:
Spring Hill National vs. San Antonio, 6 p.m.
Spring Hill American vs. Bushnell, 6 p.m.

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

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