Preps

Baseball Extra

Don't look now, but Robinson seems ready to put decades of futility behind it.

The Knights (3-1) have beaten district rivals Jesuit and Tampa Catholic to jump to the top of the Class 3A, District 9 standings. And with games against lowly Freedom and Osceola this week, the Knights could solidify that position.

Even though it is amazing that Robinson is leading the district, the wins over Jesuit and TC in the same season might be even more impressive.

"It has to have been 13 years at least since that happened," said second-year Robinson coach Greg Suazo. "We beat Jesuit last year for the first time in 12 years. These last two games I've been so excited I can't sleep until 2a.m."

Robinson is the smallest public school in the county, and Suazo has only 18 players, but those players are playing big.

Left-hander Adam Salhanick is 13-1 in his past 14 starts dating back to last season, and Nelson Sanabria is among the county leaders with a .571 batting average.

Salhanick pitched complete games against Jesuit and Tampa Catholic and has a 1.87 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 15 innings.

The Knights' loss was against Plant, a game in which Suazo was forced to save his ace because the game was sandwiched between Jesuit and Tampa Catholic.

Coming Attraction? f,9,hr0,,9.5

It has come to Tampa three of the past four years and it looks like Arlington Country Day might be planning another trip to the state tournament.

Especially if Steven Byrd continues to pitch so well.

Tuesday night against Daytona Beach Father Lopez, Byrd struck out all 15 hitters he faced in a 17-0 win shortened to five innings. Byrd needed 58 pitches -- that's only 13 more than the minimum required to strike out 15 batters, if you're counting at home.

Byrd is 2-0 and has not given up an earned run. Country Day won the state title in 2000 and '01 and was runner-up in 1999 at Legends Field.

Almost Perfect

Okay, so Bloomingdale's Ryan Strauss didn't exactly strike out everybody he faced, but are you going to argue with a five-inning no-hitter against a team that is perennially one of the state's best?

The Bloomingdale senior accomplished the feat Tuesday when the Bulls traveled to beat Venice 11-0. Strauss struck out eight Indians, walked one and hit a batter. Venice's only other baserunner reached on a catcher's error after a strikeout.

"He was pretty much in control," Bloomingdale coach K.B. Scull said. "His fastball was overpowering."

Strauss is 2-2 with a 1.00 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 21 innings. Both of his losses were by one run, the first to King in the preseason and the second to Lake Wales in a game Bloomingdale lost 4-3 despite not giving up an earned run.

"He's getting better every week," Scull said.

So are the Bulls. After a dreadful start last season before ending up in the state final four, Bloomingdale is 4-1 (not counting preseason) and building momentum.

"We finished strong last year and we're hoping to start strong and keep it going this year," Scull said.

Walk ... Back to the Dugout

Durant's Ross Jackson has seen a lot of hitters walk away from home plate this season.

Only one of them was headed for first base.

The Durant star has struck out 25 in 16 innings and walked one. His ERA is 0.88, and his record is 1-1 after a loss to King.

-- The Times will publish baseball statistics Saturdays throughout the regular season. Coaches are encouraged to send stats to Scott Purks or Mike Readling by fax (813) 226-3381 or e-mail (purks@sptimes.com; readling@sptimes.com). For hitters, include averages, at-bats, hits and RBIs. For pitchers, include won/loss record, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA. Please submit stats no later than noon Thursdays.

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