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Hernando Today

HCA Blasts Cedar Key, 16-4

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: March 3, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Here's a scary thought for all the other teams in Class 1A, District 6: defending district champ Hernando Christian Academy looks even stronger this year.

For the second time in the past two weeks, the Lions pummeled 1A-6 rival Cedar Key, following a 21-0 road victory on Feb. 24 with Tuesday's 16-4 home triumph in 4 1/2 innings.

"It's one of those games, we beat them 21-0 with seven home runs last week and it's one of those games you want to just get over with," HCA Head Coach Scott Boer said.

"You try to improve, have guys get quality at-bats and have the pitchers get pitches. You got to get the guys up for the game."

The Lions improved to 5-0 on the season (2-0 1A-6) and were coming off a 12-11 win against Clearwater-Calvary Christian on Saturday.

"I think we're doing really well," senior first baseman Josh Romeo said. "The bats are definitely on fire. Our defense is doing well, too. We had a real test against Calvary Christian and we came through and beat them.

"We had a great team last year. We lost some key starters but I think we've got some very good players with some very good talent."

Red-hot Romeo

Romeo, the clean-up hitter, went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a double off the center-field wall in the first inning that drove in the game's first run.

That performance paled in comparison to what he did at Cedar Key (0-5 overall, 0-5 1A-6) last week, when he clubbed three home runs. He's hitting .619 with four homers and 17 RBI on the young season.

"The last game of the season last year I did something to my swing, opened up my stance," Romeo said. "I tried that this year. I did some weightlifting over the summer. I guess my hitting improved."

Eighth-grader Garrett Treverton, who started on the mound and threw four innings before leaving with a blister, reached base three times and had two hits, including a RBI single in an eight-run third.

Tyler Bosworth went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles in the third, the last one knocking in two runs. Ian Townsend had just one hit but drove in three runs and another eighth-grader, Brandon Brosher, had a RBI double, single and got hit by a pitch in three at-bats, then struck out the side in the top of the fifth.

"We're doing very well," Boer said. "We're doing better than I expected. Our young guys are helping out. Garrett Treverton has been great at pitching and leading off, and Brandon Brosher is great at third base for us. We're pitching well, playing great defense."

After a three-run error in the top of the third cut the HCA lead to 7-4, the Lions sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom half to seal the blowout.

Treverton, Daniel Keyes, Townsend, Romeo, David Rotteveel, Bosworth and Jake Foster all plated runs in the explosive frame.

"We're trying to improve on pitching, decreasing walks which we're doing a good job so far," Boer said. "And stay focused on the task at hand. Concentrate on each game."

HCA 16, CEDAR KEY 4 (4 1/2 inn.)
123 45 R H E
CK 004 00 -- 4 2 3
HCA 348 1X -- 16 13 1
CK – Esposito, Alford (3) and Parks, Esposito (3).
HCA – Treverton, Brosher (5) and Keyes.
W – Treverton. L – Esposito.
2B – Bosworth 2, Romeo, Brosher (HCA).
3B – none.
HR – none.
Records – Cedar Key (0-5 overall, 0-5 1A-6), HCA (5-0 overall, 2-0 1A-6).

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

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