ST. PETERSBURG - Northwest used its experience in big games to defeat Southwest 12-4 in the District 5 junior baseball championship Monday and advance to the sectional tournament.
In addition to winning the Tournament of Champions earlier this year, five Northwest players also have played in other area league championships. Under coach Vince Feder, Keith Statin, David Statin, Tony Crevello, Kyle Clements and Jeff Ballow won the Pony League regular-season and TOC championship and the Devil Ray's RBI League Showcase Tournament at Tropicana Field.
"It's hard enough winning one championship," Feder said. "They all mean so much to us."
Ballow, David Statin, Crevello and Clements each had run-scoring hits to aid Northwest's offense against Southwest starter Wes Anderson.
In the fifth inning, Shawn Hinton reached on an infield hit, followed by a single from Clements. With the bases-loaded and one out, Southwest got a double play to get out of the inning and keep the game scoreless, but that was all the defensive help Anderson would get.
After scoring two in the fifth, Southwest committed four errors in the sixth that led to six Northwest runs.
"We had a defensive lapse that came at a bad time," Southwest coach Pat Brannon admitted. "When we finally made a mistake, they were there to take advantage of it."
Ballow's three-run homer over the leftfield fence in the seventh capped a Northwest's five-run rally. Shane Knight and Andrew Mobsby each scored twice.
Clements struck out seven and held Southwest to five hits for the win. Brandon Bonner chased Clements from the game with a two-run homer, scoring Ben Sweat.
SENIOR BASEBALL: Pinellas Park National won the District 5 title for the fourth consecutive year by defeating Northwest 3-1. Johnathan Spincken held Northwest to two hits and struck out nine. Josh Scarlett's single drove in the two in the fourth. Kevin Garcia had two hits and an RBI.
West Pasco claimed the District 12 championship with a 7-6 win over East Lake on Tuesday. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh, Ben Koenigsfeld walked and moved to third on an error. Koenigsfeld tied the score on a wild pitch, and Matt Racinowski drove in Matt Beck's game-winning run.. Reliever Cellen Neptune pitched two innings for the win. Neptune also hit a two-run triple in the fifth.
Pinellas Park National and West Pasco will meet in the sectional tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Engelbert Complex in Dunedin.
MAJOR BASEBALL: Sean O'Brien did it all against Palm Harbor in the District 12 championship game. Playing in his fourth all-star season, O'Brien gave up one hit and struck out eight in Clearwater's 5-0 win. O'Brien also was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a home run. Spencer Wilson also had a run-scoring double.
Clearwater advances to the sectional tournament for the first time in almost a decade and will open against District 5 winner Northeast on Saturday at Oldsmar.
Palm Harbor needed extra innings to complete a 3-2 comeback over Oldsmar to advance to the District 12 championship. Oldsmar was leading 2-0 on Monday when the game was suspended because of rain. Tyson Fuller drove in Ben Sweat with the winning run. Michael Warren started the game going six innings with seven strikeouts. Sweat pitched the seventh to earn the win.
MAJOR SOFTBALL: Sarah Simon had a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the sixth as West Pasco beat Safety Harbor 4-1. Simon also scored two runs. West Pasco advances to the District 12 championship against Palm Harbor tonight.
MINOR SOFTBALL: Gillie Eiland had 10 strikeouts in Tarpon Springs' 7-1 win over West Pasco. Tarpon Springs completed Monday's suspended game, winning 14-4 over Safety Harbor. April Dallaire, Alika Keene and Kelsey Beadger each had key hits for Tarpon Springs.
