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TAMPA - Hillsborough wasn't necessarily waiting for the Saladino Tournament to turn its season around. But if the Terriers keep this up all week, it'll sure seem that way.
Hillsborough pounded out 14 hits and used an eight-run third to open the tournament at home with a 12-2 five-inning win against Plant City. In the first game at the site, Sickles beat Freedom 5-0.
The win continued the Terriers' recent hot streak, which has seen them shake off a 1-3 start and win five of their past six games.
"We came out ready to go tonight," said Hillsborough coach Pat Russo, whose squad improved to 6-4.
Plant City opened the scoring when Lane Batley singled to knock in Matt Kimbel. An inning later, Hillsborough tied it when Devon Cason got the first of his three hits, scoring Frankie Collazo.
The teams stayed tied until the third inning, when Hillsborough's hot bats heated up even more. Collazo, T.J. Alonzo and Cason each hit doubles. The Hillsborough offense followed with four more hits and five more runs to put the game out of reach.
"He (Cason) has been leading us all season," Russo said. "And he came through again tonight."
Cason, who entered the event with a .331 average, had two doubles and three RBI. Stephan Davis and Luis Reyna each had two singles and scored twice.
Sickles and Freedom played a closer game. Sickles' Shane Buriff and Freedom's Brian Lehmer were dominant on the mound, holding each other's team scoreless through five. But the Gryphons broke through in the sixth. Two Gryphons hits and two wild pitches helped Sickles jump out to a 3-0 lead before it ended the scoring on a two-run home run from Carlos DeLaPaz. Buriff pitched a complete game.
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPAKing remained undefeated on the season after defeating Leto 4-2 in the only Saladino Tournament game played Saturday at the University of Tampa. King (10-0) returns to UT on Monday to play Durant at 4 p.m. Leto will follow against Tampa Bay Tech at 7 p.m. at UT.
- Times staff writer Scott Purks contributed to this report.