Staying Alive...Lopes' RBI Single Plates Laferty in Thriller

WILDWOOD - All the elements that were missing in Spring Hill American's first game Saturday against South Lake -- pitching, defense, key hits -- returned for its second game of the day, this one against San Antonio.
And just in time.
A two-out single by Josh Lopes scored Blake Laferty with the game-winning run in the fifth inning as SH American (4-1 overall) edged San Antonio 2-1 in a AAA Majors (ages 11-12) All-Stars District 6 Tournament game at Wildwood's Millennium Park.
The win permitted SH American to clash against South Lake for the district title at 2 p.m. Sunday at Millennium.
Win or lose against South Lake, SHA is guaranteed a berth in the AAA Majors State Tournament, which begins July 13 at Ridge Manor. Saturday evening's win was the second over San Antonio.
"We had to work for it today after the beating we took in the first game," said SH American Head Coach Shawn Laferty, referring to the 15-3 drubbing his team took from South Lake. "We pitched our top three pitchers that was the key."
The pitching and defense that had carried SHA in the tournament -- at least prior to the South Lake game, when it allowed 16 hits and committed five errors -- surrendered just four hits and made only one error.
SHA got its first run with some aggressive base running, Austin Treverton turning a pop fly that fell safely behind first base into a second-inning double. A wild pitch moved him to third and, after Lopes walked, Danny Schonborn hit a sacrifice fly to first that Treverton scored on.
After a 90-minute rain delay following the third inning, San Antonio knotted the score when Dylan Cumbee led off the fifth with a solo home run over the leftfield fence. That set the stage for SHA's comeback, which started with Laferty reaching base on an error. A ground out moved him to second and Lopes single just under the shortstop's glove scored him.
Now SHA will get another shot at South Lake, which lost its opening game in the tournament but has gone unbeaten since.
"I feel good about tomorrow," said Shawn Laferty. "I do hope we hit a little better."
Should SH American win tomorrow; the biggest winner may be San Antonio. That would create a tie for second between South Lake and San Antonio, two teams that did not meet in the districts.
Since the district's second-place team also earns a berth in the state tournament, a playoff would be necessary to see who goes. Should that game be necessary, it would be Monday night at Millennium.

SH American 2, San Antonio 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
SA 0 0 0 0 1 0 -- 1 4 1
SHA 0 1 0 0 1 X -- 2 3 1
SA - Stalnaker, Christmas (4) and Cumbee.
SHA - Laferty, Webster (5), Tambasco (6) and Treverton.
W - Webster. L - Christmas.
2B - Treverton (SHA).
HR - Cumbee (SA).
Records - Spring Hill American (4-1). San Antonio (3-2).

Dixie Youth League
AAA Majors (ages 11-12)
District 6 Tournament Recap
at Wildwood's Millennium Park

06-21:
Games rained out

06-23:
Spring Hill National 8, Wesley Chapel 2
Spring Hill American 12, Sumter (4.5 Inns.)
San Antonio 14, Wildwood 4
Hernando 5, Oak Griner 3
Bushnell 5, South Lake 4

06-24:
SH National 11, Bushnell 10 (6.5 Innings)
San Antonio 10, Hernando 7
South Lake 8, Wesley Chapel 4
Sumter 7, Wildwood, 4

06-25:
Games rained out.

06-26:
SH American 9, SH National 3
Oak Griner 5, Bushnell 4
South Lake 10, Sumter 0

06-27:
SH American 8, San Antonio 1
South Lake 15, Hernando 1 (4 Innings)
SH National 12, Oak Griner 0

06-28:
South Lake 15, SH American 3 (5 Innings)
San Antonio 8, SH National 3
SH American 2, San Antonio 1

06-29: (Championship)
South Lake vs. SH American, 2 p.m.