DIXIE SENIOR BOYS BASEBALL 293971
BROOKSVILLE –
Spring Hill’s Dixie Senior Boys (age 14) All-Stars completed an impressive five-game sweep of the District 6 Baseball Championships at Ernie Wever Youth Park by blanking San Antonio Thursday night, 11-0.
The West Hernando club, which outscored its opponents by 42 runs, 49-7, outhit San Ann (3-2), 11-3 overall in the 2:11 game.
Thursday’s win was Spring Hill’s third shutout of the tourney and second over the East Pasco County club. On Tuesday, the West Hernando squad stuffed San Ann, 3-0.
The win served Spring Hill Head Coach Shawn Laferty’s first-ever district crown. Laferty, who captured a state championship in 2008, joins Mike Sollazzo (2008), John Maggard (2005), Doug DeRespiris and Gerald Johnson (2001) as Hernando County skippers to guide teams to District 6 Senior Boys crowns this decade.
“We hit the ball better and we got big hits all night,” said Coach Laferty. “Certain players came to play. Our shortstop Will Pagan, is as good a player as there is around. He is an ‘A’ player.”
Had Spring Hill lost, that would have forced a winner-take-all game on Friday.
“No way did we want to play on Friday,” said Coach Laferty. “I asked the boys to prove who the better team was once and for all.”
The key?
“Our pitching was outstanding,” Coach Laferty said. “Blake (Laferty) didn’t strike out one batter. He didn’t have to. He let the other team hit the ball and we made plays behind him. It was an old-school type win. And I will say it’s nice to win a district title, but it’s nothing like winning states. This particular group of kids has finished second in states twice and won it all once – it’s a great bunch of guys.”
From the other dugout, San Antonio skipper Rob Hanlon tipped his cap.
“Their (Spring Hill) pitching was outstanding,” he noted. “Though they didn’t hit the ball the first time against us, they certainly hit the ball and put some plays together. They definitely had a game plan coming in.
“Now, we hit the ball, but most of the time it went right to somebody,” added Coach Hanlon. “Those guys (Spring Hill) have played together a long time. That’s a tough team to beat.”
Laferty rules
Right-hander Blake Laferty, Coach Laferty’s son, worked five-plus innings to earn the mound win, while Pagan retired all six batters he faced across the final two frames.
Laferty permitted three singles and two walks while not striking out a batter, while Pagan fanned three.
“I felt good, I was on top all night,” said the 14-year-old Laferty. “My arm felt strong. As a pitcher, I’m glad we came out swinging and we did a good job of working the count. Plus, our defense was stellar.”
Only J.D. Edwards, Zachary Flood and Johnny Nystrom collected base hits off Spring Hill pitchers.
In a terrific all-around effort, Spring Hill converted 30-for-30 chances on defense supporting Laferty and Pagan to earn a berth in the July 10 Dixie State Championships in Marianna.
By comparison, San Antonio hurt its chances committing a game-high five errors, besides suffering two wild pitches, one passed ball and one balk.
“We played great defense,” pointed out the 14-year-old Pagan. “And we got awesome pitching from Blake. We did not want to come back here and play again.”
Offensively, Laferty was the game’s main catalyst going 3-for-5 including a pair of doubles, while driving in a game-high four RBI.
Leadoff batter Ryan Stevens set the tone going 1-for-3, but scored four times, while right fielder Kyle Jaimes finished 2-for-4.
“Our pitching was excellent tonight,” said the 14-year-old Stevens. “Plus we had a lot of support from our defense. We did what we had to do.
“This was a huge win,” added Stevens. “They (San Antonio) came in with the mindset that they were the better team. We proved who was better.”
SPRING HILL 11, SAN ANTONIO 0
123 456 7 R H E
SH 200 401 4 — 11 11 0
SA 000 000 0 — 0 3 5
SH – Laferty, Pagan (6) and Treverton.
SA – Imhoff, Hanlon (4) and Edwards, Combee (7).
W – Laferty. L – Imhoff.
2B – Laferty 2 (SH).
Records – Spring Hill (5-0), San Antonio (3-2).
Dixie Youth League Senior Boys (age 14) All-Stars District 6 Recap at Ernie Wever Youth Park in Brooksville
06-17:
San Antonio 13, Ridge Manor 1
06-18:
South Lake 9, Hernando 3
06-19:
Sumter 8, Wesley Chapel 4
Spring Hill 20, Oak Griner 0
SH – Blake Laferty three hits; Matt Rhineberger, Danny Schonborn,
Evan Webster, Kyle Jaimes, Austin Treverton and Will Pagan each with two hits.
06-20:
Hernando 5, Ridge Manor 3
Wesley Chapel 10, Oak Griner 0
San Antonio 7, South Lake 0
Spring Hill 6, Sumter 2
06-21:
Games rained out.
06-22:
Hernando 14, Sumter 13 (8 Inns.)
HYL – D.J. Niethammer game-tying two-run HR in seventh;
Hunter Ridpath RBI single in eighth.
Wesley Chapel 9, South Lake 0
Spring Hill 3, San Antonio 0
06-23:
San Antonio 12, Wesley Chapel 9
Spring Hill 9, Hernando 5
06-24:
(Championship)
Spring Hill 11, San Antonio 0
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5278 or online at [email protected].
