For the second straight night, Spring Hill American's AAA Majors (ages 11-12) All-Stars found themselves on the short end of the scoreboard early at soggy Ridge Manor Community Park.
District 8 Champion Okeechobee, which came into the fourth-round action 5-0 overall and 2-0 during the State Championship Tournament, grabbed the lead behind two first-inning infield singles and Christian Crews' groundout, 1-0.
Meanwhile, Okeechobee southpaw Ethan Revels weaved in and out of any potential trouble across the first two innings, stranding three Spring Hill American runners.
That all changed in the third.
Spring Hill American catcher Austin Treverton, who came into the game as 'Mr. Perfect' reaching base 9-for-9 times at states, struck out against Revels in the first inning.
But in the key 5-hit, 6-run Spring Hill third-inning uprising, Treverton dealt what turned out to be the dagger - the first of his two homers - a 3-run shot to right-center off reliever Mitchell McCoin in his team's come-from-behind 8-4 win.
To seal the deal, Treverton and winning pitcher Vito Tambasco crushed back-to-back homers in the fifth off McCoin. As hot as Treverton has been, Tambasco's homer was his team-leading fifth of the postseason.
Meanwhile, Okeechobee (5-1 overall, 2-1 states), which collected eight hits, had bases runners on in 5-of-6 innings.
Tambasco worked the first two frames giving way to southpaw Evan Webster, who went the final four innings. Webster gave up six hits and three runs (all earned) including Adam Davis' RBI double in the fourth and Seth McWhorter's solo homer and Garrett Thomas's infield single in the sixth.
McWhorter and Crews paced the Okeechobee club with two hits apiece. One glaring weakness was Okeechobee's bottom half of the line-up. Its last seven batters went a combined 1-for-11 (.091 average).
The difference, according to Okeechobee Head Coach Billy Ball, was simple - the long ball.
"They (Spring Hill American, which finished with a game-high 10 hits) hit the ball," summed up Coach Ball. "It's hard to comeback after you give up three homers.
"But you know, our kids never hung their heads," he added. "We played as a team and we fought right to the end. I think our pitching will be much better tomorrow."
Spring Hill American skipper Shawn Laferty, whose team helped its self converting 25-of-25 chances on defense on a slippery turf after several hours of steady rain, echoed Coach Ball's comments.
"Oh yeah, the homers were huge," said Laferty. "I thought after such an emotional game Monday (8-5 win over South Lake) we were horribly flat early on tonight. Austin's homer put a spark in our guys. It turned out we needed every run. It was kinda a nail biter there at the end."
Other heroes?
"Look Vito (Tambasco) pitched much, much better tonight than Monday," Laferty said. "That's the old Vito. And Evan (Webster) is simply a quality pitcher. He's a No. 1 guy for any team he plays for."
Positives?
"Pitching and defense win championships," pointed out Laferty. "Tonight, even with all the rain, we didn't make any errors. That's also huge. Sure, we got 10 hits, but I'm telling you we can hit better as a team. I'm never satisfied. Hopefully, our best games are ahead."
The win maintained Spring Hill American's unbeaten won-lost record at states at 4-0. SH American (8-2 overall) is scheduled to meet Liberty County Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
Liberty County (3-1 states) remained alive Tuesday in an elimination game behind a 7-1 nod over Avon Park.
A little help here
Spring Hill American began its comeback Tuesday night with a huge pick-me-up from the bottom third of its lineup.
SH American's 10th batter, Nick Feola, ignited the 6-run third inning with a single up the middle. One out later, the team's 12th batter, Dean Pariftt, smashed a liner to right field for what appeared to be a harmless single. But Okeechobee's right fielder let the ball go through his legs all the way to the fence.
On the miscue, Feola scored all the way from first while Pariftt ended up at third.
Josh Lopes coaxed a walk before Webster forced Lopes out at second as Pariftt scored, 2-1 SH American.
Laferty, who finished 2-for-4, followed with an RBI double to right-center scoring Webster, 3-1.
Tambasco walked on four pitches as Coach Ball lifted Revels and opted for McCoin.
McCoin's second pitch, however, was deposited past the 200-foot sign in right-center, 6-1.
Just how pivotal were the home runs?
"The homers made me happy," smiled the 12-year-old Feola. "But our pitching was excellent. I know those guys can pitch even better than that."
"I have to admit, I was a little nervous (being down early 1-0)," shared the 12-year-old Webster. "But I'm kinda used to the pressure spots. As a pitcher, I like all the support; it calms you down. To me the key was how we hit the ball and how well our defense played all night."
Treverton admitted afterward it was all about adjusting, too.
"In the first inning (strikeout), I never really saw the pitch," shrugged the 12-year-old Treverton. "And I just missed it. The two homers tonight? I've never done that before in a game. Our offense got us going, but our pitching won this game."
Spring Hill American 8, Okeechobee 4
123 456 R H E
SHA 006 020 -- 8 10 0
OKEE 100 102 -- 4 8 2
SHA - Tambasco, Webster (3) and Treverton.
OKEE - Revels, McGoin (3), Crawford (5) and McWhorter.
W - Tambasco. L - Revels.
2B - Davis (OKEE), Laferty (SHA).
HR - McWhorter (OKEE); Treverton 2, Tambasco (SHA)
Records - Spring Hill American (8-2 overall, 4-0 states), Okeechobee (5-1 overall, 2-1 states).
Dixie Youth League Baseball
AAA Majors (ages 11-12)
State Tourney Recap
at Ridge Manor Community Park
07-12:
Spring Hill American 13, Ridge Manor 3 (4 Inns.)
South Walton 4, Wewahitchka 0
South Lake 11, Hiland Park 1
Liberty County 1, Avon Park 0
Okeechobee 7, Wahneta 2
Hardee County 10, Paxton 0
07-13:
SH American 11, South Walton 1 (4 Inns.)
South Lake 11, Liberty Co. 1
Okeechobee 7, Hardee County 4
Ridge Manor 8, Wewahitchka 6
Avon Park 6, Hiland Park 4
Wahneta 10, Paxton 0
07-14:
SH American 8, South Lake 5
Avon Park 4, Wahneta 3
Hardee County 4, South Walton 3
Liberty County 12, Ridge Manor 0 (5 Inns.)
07-15:
SH American 8, Okeechobee 4
South Lake 13, Hardee County 1
Liberty County 7, Avon Park 1
07-16:
Rained out
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