Better Late Than Never

WILDWOOD - A cursory glance, taking note only of the 8-1 final score, and the conclusion would be this was another expected, lopsided win for the Spring Hill American team.

It was anything but. Just ask Spring Hill American Head Coach Shawn Laferty.

"Are you kidding me?" he said moments after his team had staged a seven-run rally in the sixth inning to dispose of San Antonio in the AAA Majors (11-12-year-olds) All-Stars District 6 Tournament Friday at Wildwood's Millennium Park. "That was a great game. It was well played by both sides. We just got the big hits down the stretch."

After four rounds, SH American is now the only unbeaten team in the district tournament. It faced South Lake at 10 a.m. Saturday, while Spring Hill National went against San Antonio in an elimination game.

Depending on the results of those matchups, a district championship game would take place at approximately 1 p.m. Saturday. The top two finishers in the district will advance to the AAA Majors State Tournament in Ridge Manor.

Right till the end

By the end of SH American's half of the sixth much of the game's drama had been lost, but going into the sixth the outcome was very much in doubt.

SHA had been restricted to two hits and five base runners through the first five innings, with Vito Tambasco scoring his team's only run by racing to second base on a walk, taking third on a ground out and scoring on a wild pitch.

San Antonio tied it in the bottom half of the second when, with two outs, Jonathan Coats smacked a Blake Laferty pitch over the center-field fence. It was East Pasco County team's first hit of the game and one of only four it would manage as SHA's defense (no errors) and pitching (three walks, 10 strikeouts) dominated.

Still, San Antonio's defense (errorless until the sixth) and pitching was equally adept, until SH American's last at-bat.

Josh Lopes started it, the left-handed hitter leading off the sixth by slicing a shot down the left-field line for a double. With one out, Brandon LaMondra was hit by a pitch and Laferty, a right-handed hitter, followed by slicing a double down the right-field line, 3-1 SHA.

Tambasco then drove a David Christmas fastball well over the left-field fence to make it 5-1. Three more runs would score, two on passed balls and another on an error, as San Antonio was deflated.

"I was real proud of the way my kids played," Coach Laferty said. "That's the first time they've really been tested."

This exam, the American's aced.