Citrus Park has been living on the edge for the past week and it remained alive Saturday by beating West Tampa 14-9 in Minor baseball.
After losing its opening-round matchup 9-3 to Tampa Bay, Citrus Park went on to win its next three games, including a rematch with Tampa Bay, to carry it out of the losers bracket and into the game against West Tampa.
"It's been incredibly difficult because we seem to be playing every day," Citrus Park coach Kevin Jackson said. "And every day is an elimination game and a chance to go home, but nobody wants to go home."
Citrus Park ensured it wouldn't go home Saturday with an eight-run inning. Trailing 4-1, Citrus Park sent 11 batters to the plate and Nick Waites doubled home two runs and Kyle Flanagan contributed a two-out, two-run single. No. 5 hitter Jordan Debonis added three hits to the cause.
Mark Feenan did a good job in relief, but had to leave the game after taking a line drive off his wrist. Zach Jackson came on to shut the door.
The teams were originally scheduled to play Friday, but eligibility questions about the West Tampa team postponed the game until Saturday.
"The other team didn't have their paperwork in order, it went all the way to Williamsport (Pa.) and the decision was made to postpone the game," Jackson said. "We were ready to play and it didn't seem quite fair."
The Citrus Park win means the same teams will play again today with the winner advancing out of Field A. Awaiting the victor is undefeated Bayshore, which beat Palma Ceia 10-3 on Thursday.
American Legion
With Chamberlain, Leto and George Jenkins holding 1-1 records in pool play of the American Legion B District Tournament at Leto, and with run differential separating Lake Wales and Bloomingdale at Hillsborough, today's games will clear up which teams will advance to Monday's championship.
At Hillsborough, all games were completed except for Jesuit and Bloomingdale, which was postponed in the top of the fifth inning with Bloomingdale leading 2-0. Should Jesuit score two or more runs, Lake Wales would advance to Monday's final, but if Jesuit doesn't get two, Bloomingdale would move on to the championship game.
At Leto, two of Friday's scheduled games were canceled due to rain, leaving three teams at 1-1. Today, George Jenkins will play Chamberlain at 10a.m., Riverview plays Leto immediately after and Jesuit and Bloomingdale will conclude their game at 3p.m.
All three games will be played at Leto.
- Times correspondent Brandon Wright contributed to this report.
