Sumter Slithers Past Hernando

WESLEY CHAPEL - The Hernando Senior Boys (age 14) All-Stars came up short during Sunday's seventh-inning rally at the District 6 Tournament Sunday at Wesley Chapel District Park, losing 7-6.

Down 7-4 in the sixth, Blaine Day hit a one-out single that scored Matt Brady and Tyler Bammert, and Day became the tying run at second after a wild pitch. But Jarod Lozano, the fourth pitcher on the mound for Sumter, managed two strikeouts to end the inning and Hernando's chances.

Matt Brady went six innings for Hernando, but had to leave the mound because of his pitch count. He finished with six strikeouts with one walk and gave up a solo home run to Sumter's Cody Watson in the sixth inning.

"A tough loss," lamented Hernando Head Coach Vernon "Bubba" Patterson. "We finished the tournament 2-2. We beat Oak Griner twice and lost to Spring Hill. I knew it was going to come down to Spring Hill, Sumter or us.

"I'm just so proud of my boys," Patterson continued. "They played hard and left it all on the field; that's all I can ask for."