Five Tampa teams are still in the race for state titles, and three begin their quests today.
In Oldsmar, Bayshore's Minor baseball team will be on familiar ground after it beat Oldsmar on its home field in the Section 7 tournament.
Bayshore's success was fueled by big innings in sectionals, when they used an eight-run fifth to beat Oldsmar 11-0 and a six-run sixth to break a tie in an 8-2 win against Cross Bayou.
Erik Hughes threw a complete game against Cross Bayou and shut out Citrus Park in the District 6 championship, allowing four hits.
Max Rowe, the team's regular catcher, pitched the shutout against Oldsmar and added two hits. His bases-clearing double accounted for half the runs in Bayshore's critical sixth against Cross Bayou.
The Junior baseball team from Palma Ceia expects more of a challenge in Deltona after steamrolling through districts and sectionals. In the District 6 tournament, Palma Ceia outscored opponents 43-21. Palma Ceia then blasted Northwest and Palm Harbor American by a combined score of 32-9 on July 19 to win the Section 7 championship in Dunedin.
Thompson Brandes scored three and drove in three as Palma Ceia took a 16-0 lead before Palm Harbor rallied for seven in the bottom of the seventh. Shane Scanlon had four RBIs on two doubles in the first two innings.
Palma Ceia's pitching also will be a factor in today's doubleheader. Michael Lashbrook pitched five innings and allowed three hits against Northwest, and Patrick Hafner allowed two hits and two walks in four innings against Palm Harbor.
Tampa Bay's Major boys used a power surge to get through sectionals. Jimmy Pitisci and Connor Shimberg hit home runs in a 5-2 win against Northeast in its opening game. Steve Gonzalez had a two-run double in the team's three-run first.
Citrus Park's Minor softball team took a big step with a 12-1 win Thursday against Winter Park in its first game of pool play. Alyssa Ely threw a no-hitter and added two hits. Chelsea Oglevie, Angela Kafalas and Nickie Hall also had two hits, and Amber Rusher drove in two with a single.
Citrus Park will play a doubleheader today after Friday's game was rained out and needs one win to secure a spot in Sunday's state semifinals.
The Tampa Bay Major softball team is the one all are shooting for after it earned the No.1 seed in the North bracket, going 3-0 in pool play. Tampa Bay plays the No.2 seed from the South, Port St. Lucie, and advances to Sunday's title game with a win.
