Hayden Dean drove in the winning run with a clutch double in the championship.
By ROVEN YAU
Published June 14, 2003
SEMINOLE - Northwest ended Pinellas Park National's three-year reign in Senior baseball 1-0 at the District 5 Tournament of Champions on Friday night.
In a game dominated by starting pitching, and a thunderstorm looming on the horizon, Northwest got a clutch double from Hayden Dean in the bottom of the sixth to score Chris Fischer.
"It's the first hit I had all series this tournament," Dean said. "I was just trying to hit the ball into the outfield somewhere. Any kind of run would have helped us."
The momentum started shifting for Northwest in the top half of the sixth. With a runner on first and one out, Pinellas Park's John Schick hit a line drive back at Northwest starter Shawn Griffith. Griffith snagged the line drive and doubled up Josh Scarlett at first base.
Fischer then led off the bottom of the inning with a single into centerfield, and moved to second on Brandon Haynes' hit. With one out, Dean hit an 0-1 pitch into the right field gap for a double.
Northwest pitcher Griffith picked up the win with a complete game performance, allowing three hits and striking out 10.
Pinellas Park starter John Spincken was equally as good despite giving up the one run. He had nine strikeouts and allowed four hits.
Pinellas Park did not go without chances to score runs. In the top of the third, it squandered a bases-loaded situation.
Pinellas Park defeated Northwest in last year's championship game.
"Last year it really hit me hard, so I wanted to come back and battle hard and beat every team," Dean said.
SENIOR SOFTBALL: Seminole won the District 5 B Division championship late Thursday 10-2 over Northwest. Amanda Morgan drove in six for Seminole. Lindsey Andree picked up the win; she allowed four runs throughout the tournament.
