Winner takes all...What Seventh-Game Jitters?

BUSHNELL - In baseball, pitching, solid defense and timely hitting traditionally translate to championship banners.
Once again that principle proved its worth during Monday night's Dixie Youth League AAA Minors (ages 9-10) District 6 All-Star Tournament double header at the Kenny Dixon Sports Complex.
Though both teams secured a berth in Florida State Championships beginning July 5 in East Lakeland, local bragging rites had to be settled.
Traditionally tough South Lake spoiled Spring Hill American's post-season undefeated run in game one in Sumter County.
South Lake, which dropped June 16's tourney opener to Spring Hill National, 4-2, captured its fourth straight loser's bracket win in the nine-day long, double elimination affair in dramatic fashion.
Trailing 6-5 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Alex Gonzalez looped a single to right-center. On a subsequent 0-2 count, Kaly Thompson rapped an RBI double to left-center to tie matters, 6-6.
Jamie Henry followed with another base hit off Spring Hill American's third pitcher of the game, Josh Penney.
Here, centerfielder Jacob Murray whistled a laser relay back to the plate to catcher Michael Tinari tagging out Thompson to preserve the deadlock.
After neither team scored in the sixth, Nick Guidetti singled to left to open the bottom of the seventh and advanced on a wild pitch off southpaw reliever Thomas Sorrentino.
Michael Larson then grounded back Sorrentino (0-1), whose throw to third base was too low, for a costly error.
Pitcher Drew Mendoza followed with his team's 13th hit of the game -- a looping single to right-center -- to score Guidetti for the game winner, 7-6 South Lake.
The game one story revolved around Mendoza, who earned the win facing 37 batters across seven innings. The right-hander scattered eight SH American hits and weaved in and out of trouble despite a leaky defense behind him. Mendoza finished with nine strikeouts against two walks.
South Lake forced a winner-take-all finale despite committing a game-high seven errors.
SH American's Devon Nicolini went 3-for-3 plus a walk for the Hernando County club.
For the winners, Guidetti, Gonzalez, Thompson, Henry and Logan Duncan each rapped two hits.

Another title

In the night cap, without its No. 1 pitcher, Mendoza, available South Lake's suspect defense undermined the Lake County team's supreme upset bid.
South Lake committed four errors that led to five unearned runs as Spring Hill American's defenders converted 27-of-28 chances and helped themselves with nine hits to capture the District 6 title for the sixth time in eight years, 9-1.
"In the first game we had our No. 1 pitcher and he went the distance," explained South Lake Head Coach Manny Mendoza. "And we kept coming up with big hits.
"In the second game, Spring Hill American (6-1 overall) showed why they're the better team," pointed Mendoza. "I don't have any regrets. Our kids played hard. But you can't continue to make mistakes against good teams."
There were plenty of highlights with the leather. Catcher Matt Warner threw out Austin Davis attempting to steal second base in the third inning. Plus, steady shortstop Matt Myers had four assists without a miscue.
"Even after we lost, coach told us not to let down our confidence down," shared the 10-year-old Warner. "Tonight, we pitched better than I've ever seen them throw."
"It was a big, big win," smiled the 10-year-old Myers, who fanned three times in game one against Mendoza, but hit the ball solidly three times in game two. "Coach (Al Sorrentino) told us to keep our heads in the game. This (championship) is cool. We get all the trophies."
Centerfielder Jacob Murray caught Thompson's fly ball in the fifth and zipped a perfect relay to third base to double up Mendoza for the game's only double play.

Pitching prowess

On the hill in Monday night's title game, Head Coach Al Sorrentino had both his top two pitchers, Dante Hamilton and Penney, available for a possible seventh game. That versatility paid dividends in the title game.
The two right-handers handcuffed South Lake (4-2 overall) to three hits.
"I thought we both pitched real well," shrugged the 11-year-old Hamilton. "I thought Josh was right on target."
Hamilton worked the first four innings to earn the win. He fanned four and walked one batter.
Penney, who came in with a 6-0 cushion, worked the final two frames. In the fifth, Larson reached on SH American's lone error on a routine grounder to first base.
Mendoza followed with a double. Gonzalez spoiled the shutout bid with a fielder's choice plating Larson, 6-1.
Thompson then hit into the twin killing to Murray to end South Lake's biggest threat.
Offensively, Myers, Thomas Sorrentino and Brett Kreiger each rapped two hits for champions off starter/loser Guidetti, who worked the first four innings.
Penney, Warner and Sorrentino each scored two runs apiece.
"Tonight was fun," said Thomas Sorrentino. "I was on the team last year when we won districts, too. This year was more fun. We played good, but maybe we could play a little better."
Head Coach Sorrentino said the title game revolved around his team's depth and attitude.
"OK we lost the first game," said Sorrentino. "But there was nothing to be embarrassed about. We came here down 5-4 and took the lead. I thought we stuck it to them. It wasn't like we just handed them the game.
"Let me tell you South Lake is a darn good team," added Sorrentino. "The difference was our depth came into play in. We had our two top pitchers ready to go five innings apiece if they had to. In the first game, there was some crying going on. I told the guys this team is too good to lose two in a row and they showed it."
Keys to the game?
"Our pitching and defense brought us this far," exclaimed Sorrentino. "We took care of our pitchers to have 'em ready for a seventh game. It was a big advantage for us.
"Defensively, this is a very fundamentally sound club," he added. "After we hit this morning. We hit rollers to everybody. We made every play except for one -- that was huge tonight."
How big was the win?
"It's my first win as a manger," smiled Sorrentino. "It's a great feeling. But you know, our kids have worked really hard to get here. It's a great group of kids."

Game 1: South Lake 7, SH American 6 (6½ Innings)
123 456 7 R H E
SHA 301 020 0 -- 6 8 2
SL 500 010 1 -- 7 13 7
SHA - Hamilton, Warner (3), Penney (5), T. Sorrentino (7) and Tinari.
SL - Mendoza and Henry.
W - Mendoza. L - T. Sorrentino.
2B - Nicolini, Myers (SHA), Thompson (SL).
Records - Spring Hill American (5-1), South Lake (4-1).

Game 2: (Championship)
SH American 9, South Lake 1
123 456 R H E
SL 000 010 -- 1 3 4
SHA 031 23x -- 9 9 1
SL - Guidetti, Gonzalez (5) and Henry.
SHA - Hamilton, Penney (5), and Warner, Hamilton (5).
W - Hamilton. L - Guidetti.
2B - Mendoza (SL), Kreiger (SHA).
Records - South Lake (5-1), Spring Hill American (6-1).

By the Numbers: Hernando County's AAA Minors (ages 9-10) District 6 Titles This Decade (7):
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

YEAR TEAM HEAD COACH
2001 Spring Hill National Tom Meier
2002 Spring Hill American Bobby Pasarela
2003 Spring Hill American Ed Bunnell
2004 Hernando American Gerald Johnson
2006 Spring Hill American Jim Keith
2007 Spring Hill American Vito Tambasco
2008 Spring Hill American Al Sorrentino

Dixie Youth League
AAA Minors (ages 9-10)
District 6 Tournament Recap
at Bushnell's Kenny Dixon Sports Complex

06-14:
Wesley Chapel 18, Sumter 5
Bushnell 8, Oak Griner 7
Spring Hill American 25, Ridge Manor 0
San Antonio 8, Hernando 7
Spring Hill National 4, South Lake 2

06-16:
SH National 13, Wildwood 0
Hernando 13, Ridge Manor 0
Oak Griner 6, Sumter 3
SH American 2, San Antonio 1
Wesley Chapel 19, Bushnell 3

06-17:
Hernando 8, Oak Griner 5
South Lake 13, Bushnell 6
San Antonio 5, Wildwood 3
SH American 8, SH National 4

06-18:
No games scheduled.

06-19:
SH American 12, Wesley Chapel 2 (3 1/2)
SH National 5, Hernando 3
South Lake 8, San Antonio 4

06-20:
SH American 6, SH National 3
South Lake 5, Wesley Chapel 1

06-21:
Game postponed.

06-23:
South Lake 7, SH American 6 (6½ Innings)
(Championship)
SH American 9, South Lake 1