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Hawks don't have tools to undo Bulls

TAMPA - Armwood coach Joey Fernandez knew what his team faced before it took on Bloomingdale in the quarterfinals of the Saladino Tournament on Wednesday.

The Hawks needed to play a perfect game and get the Bulls - a squad Fernandez called "one of the best hitting high school teams in the state" - to be a little wild at the plate. If both happened, Fernandez thought Armwood would have a shot at winning.

If neither occurred, Bloomingdale would roll to a big win. It did, advancing to tonight's semifinals with a 12-3 victory.

The Bulls are looking for the chance to win their first Saladino title since back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995.

"We've been playing pretty well lately," Bloomingdale coach K.B. Scull said. "And we hit it pretty good tonight."

The Bulls (11-2) had 16 hits - 15 singles and a triple by Brett Morris. They got at least one hit in every inning and had 10 runs during the final three to push the game out of the Hawks' reach.

One of the most satisfying aspects for Scull was that the top four starters in his lineup were a combined 11-for-15 with nine runs and seven RBIs.

Shortstop Mitch Rodriguez led Bloomingdale, going 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs, an RBI and a great defensive play to end the game. Ryan Strauss was 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs.

"I thought we would have to jump on them early to have a chance," Fernandez said. "They can hit the ball, but (Daniel) Fox kept us in there for a while."

While Fox, Armwood's starter, kept the Hawks close for four innings, Bulls starter Paul McClay kept them off the bases.

McClay didn't give up a run until the fourth inning and allowed three base runners in the first three.

"He did that to us last year and he's done that to us this year," Fernandez said. "He's not overpowering, but he can place his pitches."

Scull said he has confidence in his team's ability to hit, but the key to victories is Bloomingdale's pitching. In each of its two losses this season, the starting pitching has struggled.

Those inconsistencies cause Scull to be guarded about today's game.

"As good as we were tonight, we could be just as bad tomorrow," Scull said. "This game has a way of humbling you."

- MIKE READLING

Plant senior Ken Wadsworth relieved in the sixth inning as the Panthers advanced to the semifinals with a 4-2 victory against Hillsborough.

"What you saw today is what he's been doing since his sophomore year," coach Bo Puckett said. "He just goes out there and shuts the door with runners on base and in close games."

Plant starter J.R. Dunaway gave up a double to the Terriers' Devon Cason in the sixth and was relieved by Wadsworth.

Michael Garcia's grounder was mishandled by third baseman Matt Rodriguez, and Cason scored to pull Hillsborough (8-5) within 4-2.

With runners on first and second, Wadsworth struck out Chris Noriega, and a double play off Mario Williams' hit ended the inning.

The Terriers' Todd Brazeal drew a lead-off walk in the seventh, but Wadsworth struck out the next three to end the game.

The Panthers (11-2) took a 2-1 lead in the third. Ryan McCurdy drove in Bobby Munoz with a groundout to second, and Chris McCurdy's single scored Andrew Kuykendall.

In the fourth, Dylan Brown scored on David Llona's single. Kuykendall's sacrifice fly finished Plant's scoring.

Chris McCurdy and Llona each went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Cason was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

- BRANDON WRIGHT

Alonso had 14 hits as the Ravens pummeled Durant 16-2 to advance to the semifinals.

"We hit it all over the park today," Alonso coach Landy Faedo said.

"We got some help, but it was nice to sit back and see and to watch this team start coming together and maturing."

Without coach Gary Graham, who was suspended for the tournament after being ejected Monday against King, the Cougars (6-7) broke down defensively. They committed nine errors through five innings.

Alonso (10-3) seized the opportunity, taking an 8-2 lead during that stretch.

The Ravens' first five hitters in the third scored. Alonso went through the order during it and the seventh, when the Ravens scored eight.

Alonso starter Shane Effertz allowed one earned run and struck out four in six innings.

The Ravens' Daryl Anderson finished with three hits. Ryan Breheney and Gus Fernandez each had three RBIs and two hits off four Durant pitchers.

Danny Woody went 2-for-3 with a stolen base for the Cougars.

- BRANDON WRIGHT

Chamberlain used its pitching to beat Tampa Catholic 4-2.

The Chiefs' Brad Woods pitched a complete game, limiting the Crusaders to six hits.

With one out in the first, Woods walked two.

Ralph Alvarez got caught on a double steal, but Shawn Soler's infield single put runners at first and third for the Crusaders (6-6).

A wild pitch brought home Jorge Gonzalez, and a high throw allowed Soler to not miss a beat as he raced to third.

Rafael Valiente walked and took off for second with pitcher Eric Rayfield up. He stopped to get caught in a rundown, and the Chiefs neglected Soler, who scored before Valiente was tagged to give TC a 2-1 lead.

Chamberlain (10-3) reclaimed the lead for good in the fifth with a pair of big hits. Patrick Wilson opened the inning with a double to right-center, and Josh Wittcoff's sacrifice bunt advanced him to third.

Steven Howard sent rightfielder Jimmy Ansell backpedaling with sacrifice fly to tie the score.

Rayfield issued a two-out walk to Nelson Garcia, and Austin Evans laced a double to center, which skipped past J.C. Suarez to bring Garcia around from first.

Evans, a sophomore, went 3-for-3 with a single in the seventh, and pinch-runner Jet Steele scored on a Howard groundout for the final run.

- ANTHONY GAGLIANO