TAMPA - Plant probably has the best hitting lineup in Hillsborough county - unless it's facing a sophomore from Gaither named Caleb Graham.
In that case, the Panthers can barely scrape together a couple of hits, let alone runs.
The proof is in the past two weeks, when Graham beat Plant 4-2 in the Saladino Tournament final and then 1-0 on Tuesday night with a two-hitter.
"He's one tough little pitcher," Panther coach Bo Puckett said. "He's got several pitches he is effective with (curve, slider, changeup, fastball), and he doesn't make mistakes. He makes you hit the ball."
Plant (15-4) hit it hard a few times, but Gaither's defense, which committed one error, was always there to make a play.
As a result, no Panther made it past second base and Graham, who walked none, faced two batters over the minimum.
Graham, who earned the Saladino Tournament's most valuable player award, just shrugged and said, "I wanted to shut (Plant) down because I didn't want them to say I was lucky to beat them in the Saladino final.
"Now I don't think anybody can say it was a fluke."
Gaither, which has struggled to a 1-3 record since winning the Saladino, scored the winning run in the fourth inning when Brendan Domarocki reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Clint Kolschefsky's looping single two batters later.
Puckett said the critical play was Domarocki's leadoff single, when he barely beat out Plant pitcher Ken Wadsworth as he raced to cover first.
"I think if (Wadsworth) was a split-second quicker getting off the mound then we get that out," Puckett said. "That's not a knock on (Wadsworth) because he pitched a great game (giving up just five hits).
"I'm just pointing out that one little thing like that can make a difference in winning and losing a ball game like this. ... I'm not mad at any of our guys for this game because this is one where you have to tip your hat and say we played good but we just got beat."
Gaither coach Frank Permuy said he was glad to finally play well after winning the Saladino.
"We got down to brass tacks and worked a little harder at practice because we have been struggling," Permuy said. "We had plenty of motivation for this game because we have had a horrible week.
"This makes everything feel a little better."
The victory pushes the Cowboys to 13-7.
[Last modified April 9, 2003, 02:03:05]
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