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Keswick wins pitchers' duel

Seth Montgomery allows only two hits in hurling the Crusaders to a 1-0 victory over Sarasota Out-of-Door.

ST. PETERSBURG - Keswick Christian starter Seth Montgomery showed the Sarasota Out of Door Academy Thunder how he posted a 0.68 ERA this season.

The right-hander surrendered two hits, walked none and struck out nine in a complete game to lead the Crusaders (16-9) to a 1-0 victory over the Thunder (12-7).

Both teams struggled at the plate, with three hits in the game.

Montgomery retired the first 13 batters, striking out the side in the third.

Thunder starter Deuce Hutter, who gave up one hit and hit five batters, retired the first eight before hitting Mike Rollins in the third inning with two outs. Hutter pitched out of the inning, inducing a ground ball for the third out.

Despite no hits in the fourth inning, the Crusaders grabbed the lead as Hutter started to lose control, hitting two. A groundout and a wild pitch advanced pinch runner Charlie Near to third, and he scored on a groundout by Nick Corrado.

The Crusaders' hit came in the fifth, an infield single by Montgomery that loaded the bases, but the Crusaders couldn't take advantage.

"We had a couple of runners on and they just hung around," Crusaders coach Josh Zabloski said. "Seth kept us in it and (Out of Door) made some plays. He has been getting it done."

- AARON THOMAS

SARASOTA - Calvary Christian's first trip to the baseball postseason was about as memorable as a root canal.

But far less painful, evidently. Even after a 16-0 defeat in five innings to No. 6-ranked Sarasota Christian, the Warriors smiled and wrestled with each other as the best season in school history came to a close.

By the time the end came, the Warriors (16-11) were ready, probably contributing to the postgame jocularity. Sarasota Christian scored 11 runs in the first two innings, and then cruised into the second round of the playoffs.

There was little for Calvary Christian, which was without four players because of the school's senior trip and had just one reserve, to celebrate until the final inning. With two outs, the Warriors broke up a no-hitter with its only two hits of the game - back-to-back singles by Dan Thomas and Ryan Cotton.

Sarasota Christian scored five runs (three unearned) in the first thanks to four Warrior errors, chasing starter Nate Kmet. In the second inning, the Blazers (21-5) scored six more on six hits. Cleanup hitter Harrison Mayer was 4-for-4 with three doubles.

- TIMES STAFF