WHO: Dixie Hollins (14-12) at Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (23-6).
WHEN: 7 p.m.
OUTLOOK: Both teams rallied from four-run deficits to win Tuesday: Dixie scored five straight to win 5-4 and Lakewood Ranch scored five in the bottom of the seventh to beat Gulf Coast 6-5. A straight steal of home by former Northside Christian star Lastings Milledge tied the score at 5. The Mustangs have a strong 1-2 pitching punch in lefties Ryan Lacross (10-1) and Brent Solich (9-2). Both pitched Tuesday and are headed to Manatee Community College. Milledge, considered one of the top five high school prospects in the country, has eight homers this season. A.J. Bozenhard will start for Dixie Hollins. Offense has to be a concern for Dixie coach Brennan Hervey, though the Rebels gained confidence by rallying against Palm Harbor U. ace Jason Kiley. Jesse Litsch continues to flirt with .500, and Kevin D'Amico and Jeff Dela Concha have had clutch hits.
UP NEXT: The winner of Seminole/Fort Myers in the region championship.
CLASS 5A, REGION 3
WHO: Seminole (24-3) at Fort Myers (27-4).
WHEN: 7 p.m.
OUTLOOK: The Green Wave tagged Cape Coral major-league draft prospect Jake Stevens on Tuesday in a 7-4 win. A region finalist last year before losing to East Lake, Fort Myers returns outfielder/pitcher Adam Zak and shortstop and Florida recruit Adam Davis. It used its ace Tuesday, meaning the lefty Zak, who won the district final, probably starts tonight. Seminole coach Scott Miller thinks his team might have awoken from its offensive funk with 13 runs in the fifth against Pinellas Park. Cleanup hitter Ricky Nolan was big, and eight of nine starters got at least one hit. Brian Campbell will likely start, with ace reliever Cody Reed (two wins since districts started) in the ready.
UP NEXT: The winner of Dixie Hollins/Bradenton Lakewood Ranch in the region championship.
CLASS 4A, REGION 3
WHO: Lake Gibson (22-8) at Dunedin (25-5) at Englebert.
WHEN: 5 p.m.
OUTLOOK: USF recruit Daniel Albritton pitched the Braves, a district runner-up, past Plant on Tuesday, but they still have good options in either Brian Schultz or Darryl Knaack, who pitched a one-hitter and retired the last 17 batters in the district semifinals. Schultz and Knaack also are among the Braves' best hitters. Dunedin snuck past Estero on Tuesday despite being outhit 6-4, and maybe that scare will get the No. 3 Falcons going. Dunedin is flirting with danger if it's going to leave teams in the game as three of its five losses have come in the final inning. A healthy Ryan Harvey is huge for the Falcons, but Joey Angelberger, Danny Martin and Ryan Chiasson all had key doubles and have been hot, particularly Angelberger. Catcher Scott Leffler's arm is his best weapon, and his bat seems to be coming around as well.
UP NEXT: The winner of Armwood/Naples Barron Collier in the region championship.
CLASS 3A, REGION 3
WHO: Osceola (20-8) at Fort Myers Bishop Verot (21-10).
WHEN: 7 p.m.
OUTLOOK: This is Bishop Verot's ninth trip to the region semifinals in 11 years, and the Vikings have been to the final four three times since 1994, when they won the state championship. Expect Osceola coach Steve Smith to dial up CCC's Todd Vaughan for a scouting report; two weeks ago the Marauders shut out the No. 7 Vikings 5-0. Lefty Kyle Griffith will start for the Warriors. Considering CCC lefty John Petika shut the Vikings down and a lefty in the district final shut out Bishop Verot for six innings, this could bode well. The Warriors, 8-3 in region playoff games, will need more than two runs though if they plan on getting back to the final four for the first time since 1995.
UP NEXT: Jesuit/Riverdale winner in the region championship.
CLASS 2A, REGION 3
WHO: Lake Highland Prep (19-12) at Clearwater Central Catholic (23-5).
WHEN: 7 p.m.
OUTLOOK: The good news is the Marauders beat Lake Highland Prep in last year's region semifinals 4-0 and earlier this season 4-3. The bad news: Tuesday's wild win put the CCC pitching rotation in disarray. Ryan Webb, who is battling the flu, went 32/3 innings, and Cody Rainer went 51/3. That might leave John Petika, who beat the Highlanders earlier this season, as the starter unless Webb bounces back. Coached by former major-league pitcher Frank Viola, the Highlanders will have a fresh Les McDaniel (8-2, 2.44 ERA) to pitch. They needed only four hits to win 2-1 Tuesday. They'll need more tonight against a CCC offense that top to bottom might be as good as last year's. Since a 5-0 loss to Winter Park, the Marauders are averaging seven runs in seven straight wins.
UP NEXT: Winter Park Trinity Prep/Sarasota Cardinal Mooney winner in the region championship.
CLASS A, REGION 3
WHO: Indian Rocks Christian (19-8) at Naples St. John Neumann (18-11).
WHEN: 4 p.m.
OUTLOOK: St. John Neumann won its second region playoff since 1987 as Zach Burr went the distance and the Celtics got four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Sarasota Christian. Burr has 10 of his team's wins but probably will be unavailable to pitch much tonight. Then again, he threw a shutout in the district semifinals and came back to get a three-inning save the next night. The Golden Eagles also will be without No. 1 pitcher Frankie Gross, though his hot bat will still be in the lineup. Chris Seely (6-0, 1.67 ERA) will get the start. Indian Rocks, winner of 14 of 17 since a 4-6 start, has little trouble getting men on base, but a little driving them in. Leadoff hitter Matt Sitton (24 steals) is the catalyst. Indian Rocks will be trying to avenge a 1-0 preseason loss to St. John Neumann.
UP NEXT: Cambridge/Bradenton St. Stephen's winner in the region championship.
