ST. PETERSBURG - Tampa Prep (16-10) clinched the 2A-11 title with an 8-3 victory over the Northside Christian Mustangs (19-7).
Matt Palombo earned his fifth win, allowing six hits. He walked three and struck out five in a complete game.
After a scoreless first, Will Wiand led of the second with a single. After reaching second on a fielder's choice, Wiand scored the game's first run on a single by Matt Hebert, who finished with two RBIs.
"Matt Hebert played a tremendous game," Tampa Prep coach A.J. Hendrix said. "I can't say enough about this kid."
The Mustangs tied it in the third when a Palombo wild pitch allowed Brett Hawkins to score. Hawkins doubled to the gap to lead off the inning.
The Mustangs took a 2-1 lead on a double by C. David Gollinear, which scored Tim Devlin. P.K. Keller gave the Mustangs a two-run-cushion when he scored during a rundown between second and third base.
The Terrapins took advantage of Mustang mistakes in the fourth. Rob Goldsberry doubled after Wiand reached on an error and singles by Hebert and Barrett Miningham, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, led to two runs in the inning as Tampa Prep tied it.
In the seventh, after Palombo reached on a walk, Dylan Johnson reached on a throwing error and Palombo advanced to third. J.P. Goldsberry drove in Palombo with a single and gave the Mustangs the lead for good. The Mustangs scored five times in the inning.
"(Tampa Prep) played well and they put pressure on us late," Mustangs coach Darrell Don said.
