As Devon Nicolini Goes Yard, SH American Whips Wesley Chapel, 12-2

BUSHNELL - Both teams got off to a fast start in a battle of district unbeatens Thursday night at the Kenny Dixon Sports Complex.

But the difference was Spring Hill American kept up its offensive assault, something Wesley Chapel was unable to do in this Dixie League Youth League AAA Minors (ages 9-10) All-Star baseball district contest.

Spring Hill American found itself behind 2-0 before it ever had an at-bat, but that didn't last long.

Devon Nicolini slugged a grand-slam home run over the right-field scoreboard in the bottom of the first, and SH American added four runs in the third and another in the fourth before finishing it with a three-run fifth that ended the game via the 10-run mercy rule, 12-2.

The win keeps SH American in the winner's bracket, with a rematch against Spring Hill National at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kenny Dixon. American won Tuesday's first district meeting, 8-4.

"That's the great thing about these kids," said SH American coach Al Sorrentino. "Whether they're ahead or behind, the kids keep their composure, they play tough and they play hard."

Wesley Chapel got two runs in the top of the first on a run-scoring double by Isaac Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly by J.J. Powers. But SH American answered immediately with three walks and a single in their half of the inning. Only Gonzalez's strong play at the plate, where he tagged out Dante Hamilton, who tried to score on Matt Myers' single, kept SH American scoreless for the moment.

Another walk loaded the bases for Nicolini, who deposited Zack Davidson's pitch well over the right-field fence to make it 4-2.

It never got closer

Wesley Chapel did load the bases in the third with two out, but Matt Warner struck out Chris Faddoul to end the threat.

SH American got a two-run double from Joshua Penney and scored runs on Nicolini's ground out and an error to make it 8-2 after three.

A run-producing double by Zach Sorrentino in the fourth combined with Hamilton's two-run single and Myers' game-ending RBI single in the fifth ended it.

Hamilton worked the first two innings and got the pitching win. He also had two hits, two walks and two RBI. Nicolini also had a double and five RBI, and Myers had two hits.