Undone Again

DADE CITY - In the three previous times they played the Pasco Pirates this spring, the Nature Coast Technical Sharks baseball team lost by a combined score of 18-3.

But on Friday night in "Death Valley"during the Class 4A, Region II baseball semifinal game, things started off well for the Sharks.

Jack Diven drove home a run in the first inning and in the second after a single by Chris Jones and a double by Eric Adams, Danny Colon laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to bring in one run and another scored on an error.

In their three previous games, (7-1, 8-1 and 3-1 wins for Pasco), the Sharks had only managed three runs on 12 hits. But Friday night, the Sharks matched that run total in the opening two innings.

But even with a 3-0 lead, the Pasco Pirates clearly showed why it may be the finest Class 4A team in the state as catcher Jorge Jaramillo drove home six runs while Henry Johnson came on in relief and threw six scoreless innings to help the Pirates to a 12-3 win.

"It seemed like everything they hit found holes," said NCT's first-year Head Coach Bob Shepard. "When we first came in, we knew we had to execute and make plays against this team. "But (Jorge) Jaramillo is a heck of a ballplayer. Tonight he really was a Shark killer."

The Pasco junior catcher was the hitting star for the 25-5 Pirates going 3-for-5 on the night.

For Jaramillo and his teammates, the game was one stepping stone as the Pirates try to again reach the region finals, where they lost last year to Orlando Bishop Moore.

"Coach is always talking to us about the state," described Jaramillo. "Now it's in our blood, it's automatic."

Quick start

NCT jumped ahead early against starter Dustin Brown in the first inning when with two outs, Brandon DeRespiris singled and stole second. Travis Murray followed with a walk and Jack Diven drove in a run with a single to left.

The Sharks added two more runs in the second when Chris Jones singled and Eric Adams doubled to right.

Pasco then changed pitchers as Henry Johnson came in for Brown. After striking out Matt Adams, Danny Colon drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and Pasco shortstop Jacob Schrader made an error on a ground ball hit by Kenny Treverton, which allowed Adams to score from third, 3-0 Sharks.

But the Sharks did not get another run in the game as Johnson, now 7-0 on the year, shut down the NCT bats.

The Pasco junior right-hander closed the Shark attack, holding them over six innings to three hits, no runs or walks and three strikeouts.

Pasco tied the game off Shark starter Joey Silvestri in the second when Aaron Brandt singled, Brandon Allen walked and Joshua Johnson reached base on an error by Treverton.

The Jaramillo worked the count to 3-2 and fouled off five straight pitches before lining a double to center that scored all three runs.

In the third, the Pirates went ahead for good as Henry Johnson singled and Brandt was hit by a pitch. Silvestri then allowed both runners to move up a base on a wild pitch and Jaramillo brought them both in with a single to right.

Pasco added two more runs in the fourth on a solo homer by Dylan Giella and an RBI single by Henry Johnson.

Then in the sixth, the Pirates tacked onfive more runs as Giella had a run-scoring single, Dustin Brown and Brandt both drove in a run with a single and Jaramillo drove in one with a bases-loaded fielder's choice.

All told, after the third inning and with Johnson on the mound, NCT had only one inning with two runners on as Johnson retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

"21 wins is nothing to hang your head about," said Shepard. "They did a great job."

After the game, Shepard said he tried to tell his team that losing one game does not invalidate a season.

"I told them this one game doesn't define a season, it takes nothing away from what they did," said Shepard. "Last year we lost seven seniors and this year we'll lose eight. Now it just a matter of rebuilding again."

Pasco 12, Nature Coast Technical 3
NCT 120 000 0 -- 3 7 2
PAS 032 250 X -- 12 13 1
NCT: Silvestri, DeRespiris (4), Mi. Adams (5) and
Murray.
PAS: D. Brown, H. Johnson (2) and Jaramillo.
W - H. Johnson.
L - Silvestri.
2B - E. Adams (NCT); Jaramillo, Giella (PAS).
HR - Giella (PAS).
Records - Nature Coast Technical (21-7); Pasco 25-5.