Spring Hill American Answers Wake-Up Call

LAKELAND - For five innings of yesterday's State Tournament opener versus Poinciana, the Spring Hill American AAA Minors (ages 9-10) All-Stars managed just one hit off Drenise Ozuna.

Fortunately for the Hernando County squad, games at this age level last six innings.

Down to the its final two outs, Spring Hill American sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth inning, mounting a startling comeback for a 5-2 victory at Aldine Combee Park in Lakeland.

"We woke up," Spring Hill Head Coach Al Sorrentino said. "For five weeks at this, we've practiced at 10 in the morning a couple times. It seems like these kids don't wake up until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. That seems to be what happened.

"We really didn't do great at the beginning of the game even putting the ball in play. The last inning we put it in play. They made an error or two and we took advantage."

The rally began innocently enough. With one out, Zach Sorrentino hit a ball that barely made it to the infield grass, yet good enough to draw an awkward throw from the catcher resulting in an error.

Another error on Brett Krieger's grounder put runners on the corners and a walk to Marianne Sparacia loaded the bases for the top of the line-up.

Ozuna exited, still having permitted just one hit. Dante Hamilton greeted the next pitcher by ripping a two-run single down the third-base line to tie the game.

Matt Myers plated the go-ahead run on a groundout to first, then Devon Nicolini plated another run on a single into center. Thomas Sorrentino drove in one more by drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Poinciana struck the initial blow in the bottom of the first inning, when Jose Ramos hit a rocket that skipped into center field, scoring Emmanuel Garcia.

Spring Hill (7-1 overall, 1-0 in-tournament) pitchers Matt Warner and Nicolini held Poinciana (3-2 overall, 0-1 in-tournament) scoreless until the fifth, when Poinciana used small-ball tactics to scratch out what seemed like an insurance run.

Jomar Hernandez reached on a leadoff bunt single. Brian Quiles also laid down a bunt and reached on an errant throw to first. Hernandez came all the way around on the play.

Spring Hill American advanced to play Okeechobee American at 5 p.m. tonight. Poinciana moved on to an elimination contest versus Panama City Beach.

"We did all right," Poinciana Head Coach Julio Tapia said. "I think we can come back tomorrow. We got a good team, we just fell apart the last inning. The kids made two bad errors and that got them started."

SPRING HILL AMERICAN 5, POINCIANA 2

123 456 R H E

SHA000 005 -- 5 3 1

POI100 010 -- 2 7 2

SHA - Warner, Nicolini (3), Hamilton (5) and Tinari.

POI - Ozuna, Almodovar (6), Iglesia (6), Ramos (6) and Hernandez, Garcia (6).

W - Hamilton (5-0). L - Almodovar.

2B - Ozuna (POI).

3B - none.

HR - none.

Records - Spring Hill American (7-1 overall, 1-0 in-tournament), Poinciana (3-2 overall 0-1 in-tournament).