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Sickles takes advantage of Jefferson's miscues

TAMPA -- Using a patient approach at the plate and the strong pitching of Chris Delaney, Sickles clobbered district rival Jefferson 10-0 in five innings Friday.

The Gryphons (4-1) pounded out 10 hits but were aided by seven walks issued by Dragons pitchers. Jefferson (3-2) compounded its problems by committing three errors.

"We just kicked the ball around," Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta said.

The three errors led to four runs. An error by second baseman Julio Picheco brought in two runs in the fourth, and a routine fly ball to leftfield turned into a two-base error and two more runs in the fifth.

With the lead in hand, the 6-foot-4 Delaney (1-0) shut down the Dragons. He allowed six hits, walked none and didn't allow a runner to reach third. "He hasn't even hit his stride yet," Sickles coach Robert Pagano said. "This was just his second outing of the year and our fifth game. When we have a premier pitcher like him on the mound, we better not lose."

The Gryphons scored first with three runs in the third off starter Javier Fiallo (0-2). Ernie Diez led off with a single, and Brian Scoville followed with the first of his two RBI doubles.

David Cash singled to center to put Sickles up 2-0. Fiallo struck out the next two batters, but Paul Moat laced a one-hop single off the glove of third baseman Chris Dixon to score Cash. The Dragons appeared to have the answer in the bottom of the inning, but an interference call derailed a potential big inning.

With two on and one out, Alfredo Cabale lifted a ball into deep left-center. Diez dived for the ball but missed it. Andre Caldwell was on second and headed for third when the ball dropped. As Caldwell rounded third, he made contact with Cuesta and was called out. Fiallo struck out to end the inning with runners on first and second.

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