TAMPA - One night after it was forced to battle back from a two-run deficit just to make the district final, Jesuit found itself with an even bigger problem Thursday night as it entered the Class 3A, District 9 final against St. Petersburg Catholic.
This time, however, the problem was in the dugout rather than on the scoreboard.
First baseman Chris Swauger, the team's leading hitter, showed up to Paul Straub Field with his hand in a brace and surgery scheduled for next week to repair ligaments he tore in Wednesday's semifinal.
The result was a hole in the Tigers lineup and some minor confusion to overcome on the base paths. Jesuit, however, was able to overcome both and down the Barons 2-1 to begin their 13th consecutive trip into the region playoffs with a district title.
The Tigers (25-2) will be at home for Tuesday's region quarterfinal.
Swauger, who finished his season hitting .500 with five home runs, was replaced at first base by Brant McCown, who held up his end by driving in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
That and starting pitcher J.J. Crumbley's four-hit, complete game were highlights on a night when Jesuit was uncharacteristically sloppy on the base paths. Four Tiger runners were either caught stealing or picked off in the first four innings, squashing any momentum Jesuit could have hoped to mounted.
"We had some new people in there, we just need to pull together," Tigers coach John Crumbley said. "You have to do the little things right."
The Barons (19-8) did the little things, it was just a matter of cracking Crumbley, who was not stellar but certainly in control.
"When he needed to make a big pitch he made it," his father said.
St. Petersburg Catholic finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth when Tyson Brock walked. He was replaced by Brandon Epperson at first, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a throwing error by Ryan Wiser.
5A-7: Chiefs top Alonso
TAMPA - It seemed as if everything was in Alonso's favor at Sickles. The third-year Ravens' Cinderella-type season had them facing Chamberlain, which they had defeated twice already this season and a squad starting a 10th-grader on the mound.
But Austin Evans had other ideas.
Behind Evans' steady performance, Chamberlain's defense and some timely hits, the Chiefs' shook off Alonso 3-2. Chamberlain (16-10) advances to the region quarterfinal with a home game Tuesday. Alonso (21-4) continues its dream season the same day, although it will be on the road.
"I was just trying to throw strikes," said Evans, one of 10 sophomores of Chamberlain's roster. Evans (5-3) threw a complete game, allowed three hits, walked two and struck out three. After Chamberlain scored the first run in the second when Nelson Garcia scored on a Cody Overby single, Alonso followed suit. Designated hitter Orlando Bacon drove home Ryan Breheney with a single to left.
The teams traded runs again in the fifth, to leave the game knotted at two heading into the sixth. Alonso starting pitcher Matt Stephenson (7-1) was replaced to start the sixth by Chris Whelan, who promptly walked Manny Mull. After a Ryan Wirth single and an infield out, Mull was on third. A Whelan wild pitch sent Mull home for the winning run.
- ROD GIPSON
6A-6: Bulls victorious
SARASOTA - Bloomingdale put together strong pitching, good defense, and timely hitting to turn back Sarasota 4-2, earning the right to host a region quarterfinal Tuesday.
The Bulls (22-4) had split the season series with the Sailors, each team winning on its opponent's turf, and Bloomingdale anticipated a tough game against the always powerful Sailors.
Strauss, Florida State-bound, struck out 10 and allowed three hits, all singles in the third, when Sarasota scored twice to knot the game at 2-2. Sarasota nearly went ahead in the third but a brilliant defensive play by Bloomingdale catcher Ryan Collins ended the threat. With one run in and runners at the corners, Sarasota's Steve Karwatt singled off the third base bag, driving in the second run of the inning. When the ball bounded down the left field line, the Sailors' Dale Slimick rounded third and was waved home with the potential tie-breaking run. Left-fielder Daniel Payne fielded the ball and fired a rifle shot to the plate. The runner had the throw beaten but Collins blocked the plate, made the catch, and swiped the runner trying to get past him.
"There was no way that guy was going to beat me," Collins said. "That was just too big a run to give up."
The Bulls got the winning run in the fifth when Scott Porter doubled, moved to third on Brandon Kibler's sacrifice, and came home on Tony Thomas' towering triple off the center field fence.
- JIM REESE
A-7: Tampa teams out
CLEARWATER - Calvary Christian capitalized on five Cambridge errors for three unearned runs in a 5-3 victory at Jack Russell Stadium.
The Warriors face Keswick Christian in tonight's final.
In the first semifinal, Keswick ousted Bayshore 5-0 behind a no-hitter by Seth Montgomery. The Warriors took a 4-0 lead in the third against Steve Gonzalez. Cambridge committed four errors in the inning.
The Lancers got two back in the bottom of the inning. Chris Widell's triple to the warning track in rightfield scored Cox. Craig followed with a single to left.
