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Eagles keep rolling along

CLEARWATER -- Tyler Huegel does not enjoy this sort of run support every time out, but nights like Friday might not seem so unusual anymore.

Right now, everything's going East Lake's way.

The Eagles, ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, continued their near-perfect start with a 12-2 romp over Clearwater. Huegel pitched a complete game, and he and his teammates pounded Clearwater with seven extra-base hits and 17 in all.

"All the pieces are in place, and everything's clicking right now," the senior right-hander said. "It's nice."

East Lake (11-1 overall, 6-0 in Class 5A, District 9) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Jeff Germano singled to right. Clearwater rightfielder Jimmy Goodman might have had a play at the plate on Bill Manion, but the sharply-hit ball got by him and rolled to the wall, allowing Manion to score and Germano to come around.

Those were the only runs Clearwater starter Chris Wilson would give up, but he still took the loss.

Tornadoes coach Steve McKee lifted him after four innings, and three relievers that followed gave up 10 runs.

"He was coming around (East Lake's) order for the third time," McKee said. "It was time to take him out."

The Eagles' three-run fifth started with Manion reaching on a Clearwater error, then Germano dug in for an epic at-bat.

Pitcher Reed Teal threw over to first several times to hold Manion, and occasionally delivered a pitch. In the meantime, Germano worked the count full, fouled off a couple more offerings, then stroked a triple to left-center to score Manion.

Clearwater (5-7, 2-4) had scored a run off an RBI single by Chris Jones in its half of the fourth to cut the lead in half, but Germano's work shifted the momentum. Tyler Huegel then followed with a double to score Germano, and Nate Huegel singled to score his brother and put East Lake up 5-1.

Germano added a two-run triple in the sixth and an RBI single in the seventh. Tyler Huegel struck out five and walked two to run his record to 5-0.

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