BROOKSVILLE - East Lake is headed to the championship game of the 2004 Tom Varn Invitational Baseball Tournament, as they trounced Hernando 12-1 in a 5-inning game in Brooksville Friday.
East Lake's Dane Lynch dominated Hernando's batters. He allowed just one unearned run while striking out ten and walking four.
East Lake coach Lee Byers was impressed.
"(Lynch) threw well. He is young, still only a sophomore, and he'll get better," he said. "We showed good team offense. We all work very hard and we teach fundamentals and they listen."
The Eagles posted 10 hits. Bill Manion led the charge for East Lake with three hits, two RBIs and three steals. Second baseman Donnie Hathaway added a two-run single to cap a seven-run fifth. Hernando pitchers issued three walks during that inning.
"We are in a rebuilding process with our pitchers. They are inexperienced," Hernando coach Tim Sims said.
"Our pitchers are pretty even and we are waiting for one of them to step-up for us."
