LAND O'LAKES - Strong pitching led to a 2-0 start for the Land O'Lakes Major Baseball Nationals in the District 13 all-star tournament.
Land O'Lakes got complete games from right-handers Michael Hamilton and Charlie Fischer.
Hamilton tossed a two-hitter, struck out 12 and walked two in Saturday's 9-2 victory against Antioch. Fischer scattered four hits, striking out 10 and walking one, in Sunday's 6-2 defeat of East Point.
"We have all the tools ready to go," said Land O'Lakes manager Scott Hilgenberg, who said he believes his team is a title contender. "If the kids stay focused, things will work out."
Hamilton allowed two unearned runs in the second and got hit in the helmet while batting in the bottom of that inning.
"He came back after that and shut them down," Hilgenberg said. "He just overmatched them with his velocity."
Hamilton relied mostly on a fastball, clocked at 63 mph, and a slider.
Fischer and Ray Clark each had two of Land O'Lakes' 12 hits.
In the victory against East Point, Land O'Lakes took a 3-0 lead in the first. J.J. Downum doubled, advanced to third on a single by Eric Price and stayed there on a bunt single by Curt Hilgenberg. Downum scored when Fischer walked. Price came home on Hamilton's single, and Clark's sacrifice fly plated Hilgenberg.
Hamilton finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Land O'Lakes' Junior Softball team also got off to a 2-0 start by taking advantage of a forfeit by East Bay before an 11-1 victory against East Point.
In a six-inning game, cut short by an inning due to the 10-run mercy rule, Land O'Lakes' Ashley Goldsborough threw a complete game. Goldsborough pitched a one-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks.
Goldsborough and Jackie Tetlow had three hits. Both also tripled and drove in two runs.
Tristin Trottier went 2-for-3 with a double.
Land O'Lakes plays Bloomingdale at 8 tonight at East Point in a rematch of the District 13 President's Cup final, won by Bloomingdale.
"Hopefully, things will be different," Land O'Lakes manager Steve Goldsborough said. "They've got a strong team."
DISTRICT 15: Shady Hills' Senior Baseball team posted a shutout in its series opener, 13-0 against Crystal River at Central Citrus.
Starter Jessie Grau, a right-hander, allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked two.
"He had them from the first pitch to the last one," Shady Hills manager Howard Maynard said. "He didn't throw that hard. He was hitting his spots."
Tommy Snow sparked the Shady Hills offense with a grand slam, single and four RBIs.
Dusty Nelson, who doubled twice and singled, drove in three runs. Grau, who had a double and two singles, Bobby Rondos and Kevin McCracken had two RBIs.
DISTRICT 4: Zephyrhills got complete games from Matt Dinning and Corey Gennaro and won its first two games in the 9-10 Baseball tournament in Dade City.
Zephyrhills plays at 6 tonight against Plant City American, needing one victory in its next two games to advance to the semifinals Thursday in Bartow.
"It was just good, solid fundamental baseball. Our defense was awesome," manager Steve LaVertue said.
Zephyrhills opened the tournament Saturday with a 9-0 victory against North Lakeland then followed Sunday with a 6-5 victory against Lakeland City Tangerine, whose league champion won the district's Tournament of Champions.
Dinning and Gennaro also provided key hits for Zephyrhills, as did Jaxon Moore, Andrew Welch and Nick Cimino.
A key play Sunday came when a Lakeland runner tried to score from third on a passed ball. Catcher Bobby LaVertue tracked the ball down and flipped a throw to Gennaro, who made the tag just in time.
Dade City's 9-10 team didn't fare as well during the weekend, losing 5-0 to Plant City on Sunday after an opening-round bye. Dade City entered Monday's elimination game against North Lakeland needing three consecutive victories to advance to the district semifinals in Bartow. "We just didn't hit the ball," said manager Ricky Gude, whose team managed only three hits.
