Staying Alive! Lopes' RBI Single Plates Laferty

WILDWOOD - All the elements that were missing in Spring Hill American's first game Saturday against South Lake -- pitching, defense, key hits -- returned for its second game of the day, this one against San Antonio.

And just in time.

A two-out single by Josh Lopes scored Blake Laferty with the game-winning run in the fifth inning as SH American (4-1 overall) edged San Antonio 2-1 in a AAA Majors (ages 11-12) All-Stars District 6 Tournament game at Wildwood's Millennium Park.

The win permitted SH American to clash against South Lake for the district title at 2 p.m. Sunday at Millennium.

Win or lose against South Lake, SHA is guaranteed a berth in the AAA Majors State Tournament, which begins July 12 at Ridge Manor. Saturday evening's win was the second over San Antonio.

"We had to work for it today after the beating we took in the first game," said SH American Head Coach Shawn Laferty, referring to the 15-3 drubbing his team took from South Lake. "We pitched our top three pitchers, that was the key."

The pitching and defense that had carried SHA in the tournament -- at least prior to the South Lake game, when it allowed 16 hits and committed five errors -- surrendered just four hits and made only one error.

SHA got its first run with some aggressive base running, Austin Treverton turning a pop fly that fell safely behind first base into a second-inning double. A wild pitch moved him to third and, after Lopes walked, Danny Schonborn hit a sacrifice fly to first that Treverton scored on.

After a 90-minute rain delay following the third inning, San Antonio knotted the score when Dylan Cumbee led off the fifth with a solo home run over the left-field fence. That set the stage for SHA's comeback, which started with Laferty reaching base on an error. A groundout moved him to second and Lopes' single just under the shortstop's glove scored him.

SHA got another shot at South Lake, which lost its opening game in the tournament but had gone unbeaten since.

"I feel good about tomorrow," said Shawn Laferty. "I do hope we hit a little better."