Both teams lose in the opening round of the District 13 tournaments.
By STEVE LEE
Published June 18, 2003
LAND O'LAKES - It didn't take long for two Land O'Lakes all-star teams to fall into do-or-die situations.
The ages 9-10 baseball and softball squads lost in Saturday's opening round of the District 13 tournaments at East Bay and played Tuesday night in double-elimination series.
The softball team faced New Tampa at 5:30, the baseball team followed with a 7:30 game against Brandon National. Lauren Turcotte and Wesley Kyle were Land O'Lakes' scheduled starting pitchers. (Results were unavailable at press time.)
"I think the kids were a little nervous," Land O'Lakes baseball manager Karl Hencke said of a 13-9 loss to Lutz on Saturday. "Both teams were making errors. We just didn't quite get it done."
Land O'Lakes blew a 9-8 lead, with Lutz earning the win with five runs in the bottom of the fifth.
"That's when some of the wheels started coming off," Hencke said.
The defensive play of the game helped end the fifth, as Land O'Lakes turned a 1-3-2 double-play featuring pitcher Harry Olsen, first baseman Bryan Mangual and catcher John Michael Gant.
Gant also sparked the offense with a single, a triple and three RBIs. His three-run triple highlighted Land O'Lakes' four-run second that tied it at 5.
Land O'Lakes scored four more in the fourth, primarily on walks and Lutz errors. Gant, David Danahy, Geoff DeGroot and Brad Hencke scored in that inning.
Gant, Brad Hencke, Mangual and Olsen pitched for Land O'Lakes, with Olsen taking the loss.
The Land O'Lakes softball team ran into a familiar nemesis Saturday, losing 7-0 without a hit against Bloomingdale.
Last season Bloomingdale knocked Land O'Lakes into the loser's bracket before winning the district title in a rematch.
"They're tough," Land O'Lakes manager Tim Marshall said. "Their 9-year-olds play up in the majors."
With five returners - Sarah Jones, Amber Hay, Caitlyn Morehouse, Erin Ballard and Turcotte - Marshall felt pretty good about his team's chances in the opener but said "a couple of mental errors" and lack of offense led to the defeat.
Land O'Lakes had two baserunners against Bloomingdale. Ballard walked and Jones was hit by a pitch, but neither advanced beyond second base.
Hay went the distance on the mound, scattering four hits with 11 strikeouts in five innings.
Marshall would like nothing more than another shot at Bloomingdale but realizes that might not come until the district final because of his team dropping into the loser's bracket. Defeating New Tampa was the priority Tuesday.
"We should take care of business, I hope," Marshall said before Tuesday's game.
