Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Preps
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 23, 2003
SEMINOLE -- Seminole coach Scott Miller said with districts less than a week away, it's good to play quality programs.
The Warhawks defeated a quality program Tuesday, 2002 state runner-up East Lake, 9-4 behind strong pitching and timely offense.
Seminole scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and added two in the second, handing the Eagles a seven-run deficit through two. Starter Mike Patterson struck out six in five innings to get the win for the Warhawks (20-3). Matt Cresta took the loss for East Lake (20-4).
"We beat a good club tonight," Miller said. "Cresta is a pitcher we've seen before and he is a very good pitcher, so it was good that we got to him early in the ballgame."
In the first, Seminole sent 11 batters to the plate, the first seven of which scored.
Leadoff hitter Shawn Keill singled and scored on a hit by catcher Ricky Nolan. The Eagles made two errors in the inning, one by Cresta on a wild pickoff throw to first and the other on third baseman Nick Newsted.
"We talked about having better quality at-bats and executing, and tonight I think we did that," Miller said. "Especially in the first inning."
The Warhawks scored two in the second courtesy of a two-run homer from Kyle Albright.
East Lake took a 2-0 lead in part because of two Seminole errors, both on shortstop Skylar Delgado, who injured a finger on his throwing hand in pregame warmups.
Mike Guidi roped a run-scoring single and Newsted hit a fielder's choice, giving the Eagles their first two runs.
In the seventh, East Lake catcher Nate Huegel doubled to short leftfield, scoring two. He advanced to third on a throwing error but was stranded in scoring position as the final two Eagle hitters popped up at home to end the game.