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ANTHONY GAGLIANOThe Panthers' national ranking makes them a target, and Lions pitcher Stephen Locke is up to the task.
TAMPA - Armed with the No.29 ranking in America, Plant carries some impressive credentials. King pitcher Stephen Locke has some of his own.
The future Florida Gator shut out the Panthers on three hits Friday, carrying King to a 3-0 victory. Behind a buckling curveball, Locke struck out six and managed the strike zone with three walks.
"It was blown up big on our bulletin board," said King coach Jim Macaluso of the Baseball America article listing Plant among the top 50 high schools. "They're very deserving, but I had to use it."
Locke chose to look at the impact of the win.
"We really want to get the No. 1 seed in the district tournament," Locke said. "If we win out, we will, so (Macaluso) really talked it up."
On top of great pitching, the Lions have speed.
Two double steals, a straight steal and a couple of bunts forced Plant (3-1) to make plays in the field and the Panthers couldn't respond. In addition to two errors, King took advantage of Plant starter J.R. Dunaway's wildness.
The Panther senior required 29 pitches to escape the first inning as King (4-0) scored once. Then Dunaway hit the leadoff man in the second. Locke walked to put runners on first and second, with a double steal applying more pressure. A second hit-by-pitch loaded the bases and a possible double-play grounder was flipped into centerfield, scoring two.
King also ran itself out of two innings. Merek Carter attempted to score from second in the second inning after Dunaway's pickoff throw to first rolled toward the fence. Carter was thrown out at the plate and the next batter struck out to end the inning. Jeff Bromley was picked off second with two on to end the fifth.
Plant coach Bo Puckett said his team should get used to the pressure of being the team everyone wants to beat.
"We come to the field with the mentality that this is a big game," Puckett said. "We are worried about us and only us. But, I'm not unhappy with our effort tonight."