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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 11, 2002
They took the long road to get there, but the Yellow Jackets are right where they want to be.
After forfeiting their 8-4 victory against Tampa Bay in the first round for using an ineligible player, the Yellow Jackets have won three in a row to reach the Field B final in the Junior baseball tournament.
The Yellow Jackets pounded Keystone 13-3 in five innings Wednesday.
"It shows a lot of character on the players' part," Yellow Jackets coach Corey Thomas said. "They have a no-quit attitude."
The Yellow Jackets' offense was led by Quawn Anthony, who went 3-for-4 and will pitch today against Northwest. Ron Turner went 2-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.
Host Keystone scored three runs in the first, but the Yellow Jackets scored seven in the next two innings to take command. Olden Gordon pitched four shutout innings in relief to seal the victory.
Host Citrus Park scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Northside 3-2 and wrap up the Field A championship.
With runners on first and second, Chadd Moss grounded to shortstop, but the throw was wide of first, allowing Justin Bowman to advance on the error, sliding under the catcher's tag at home plate.
Bowman doubled to begin the game and scored Citrus Park's first run. In the sixth, a double by Moss forced a 2-2 tie.
In Major baseball Field B action, Palma Ceia continued to do just enough to win. The team pulled out its third straight one-run victory to eliminate host Keystone 3-2 and advance to the district final.
Palma Ceia scored all three of its runs in the third with the final run crossing the plate on a passed ball.
Ray Krause hit a home run in the sixth to pull Keystone within one, but the home team couldn't score again.
"The bats just weren't there," Keystone coach Craig Blackburn said.
"They're a very well-coached team and they don't make mistakes."
In Field A, Tampa Bay overpowered Citrus Park 11-6 and will meet Bayshore today for the right to face Palma Ceia in the championship game.
Keyed by Jamie Van Pelt, who walked twice and scored both times, and Spencer Montague, who went 2-for-4 with a double, Tampa Bay scored five runs in the first and six in the third to secure the victory.
Connor McClutchy's two-run home run in the sixth gave Citrus Park some hope, but it couldn't rally to avoid elimination. Tampa Bay must beat Bayshore twice to advance to the district championship.
District 6 crowned its Major softball champion Wednesday. Citrus Park/Keystone's 14-2 victory against Northside completed a perfect run heading into sectionals.