Preps

Shady Hills seniors have shot at title

By STEVE LEE and GREG AUMAN
Published July 6, 2004

SHADY HILLS - Shady Hills Senior Baseball overcame an opening loss in the District 15 tournament to win two games by the mercy rule.

Shady Hills, which lost to Inverness 8-5, defeated West Hernando 16-5 and Central Citrus 10-0 to advance to the championship against Dunnellon at 6:30 tonight in Central Citrus. Shady Hills needs to win tonight and Wednesday to claim the title.

"The bats have been working. Everybody's hitting the ball well," said Shady Hills manager K.C. Cox, whose team has scored 31 runs in three games.

Owen McQuade hit a home run in each of the first two games and Sam Donataccio homered twice against West Hernando.

In the Central Citrus game, the Prince twins, Korey and Kevin, each doubled off the outfield fence.

Pitchers Joe Odom and Josh Bond each have won, but Cox said he might start Tommy Snow, who lost the opener.

Catcher Korey Prince, infielder Kevin Prince and centerfielder McQuade have been Shady Hills' defensive standouts. McQuade is filling in for Travis Cox, the manager's son, who has a swollen left ankle and has sat out the tournament.

LAND O'LAKES MINOR BASEBALL: After a 3-0 start in the District 25 tournament, things were looking up for Land O'Lakes. But two losses later, the season was over.

Land O'Lakes combined for 13 errors in Saturday's 11-10 loss to Dade City and Monday's 5-2 loss to New Tampa.

"That's what killed us right there," manager Karl Hencke said of the miscues. "Mainly a lot of dropped balls and bad throws. That's what cost us."

Land O'Lakes opened with a 21-5 win over Antioch, shut out Zephyrhills 9-0 and edged New Tampa 6-5.

Zach White earned the win in the first game with Ross Quakenbush, Jordan Smith and Mike Matayka each contributing three hits.

Brad Hencke pitched a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts and a walk against Zephyrhills.

Reliever Cody Hebert won against New Tampa as Land O'Lakes snapped a tie at 5 with a decisive run in the sixth. Smith reached on an infield error, White singled and Smith scored on Harry Olsen's single.

LAND O'LAKES 11-YEAR-OLD BASEBALL: In Little League's newest division, Land O'Lakes National went 2-2.

The team lost 10-1 to Dade City, then beat Zephyrhills 8-5 and Lutz 15-5. National was ousted in Saturday's 12-8 loss to Land O'Lakes American, which erased an 8-0 deficit.

Against Zephyrhills, outfielder Bradley Haskins, second baseman Cory Clark and third baseman Justin Brown teamed for the defensive play of the game by nailing a runner trying for a triple.

Also in that game, Davis Marvel and Brown each had three RBIs.

DADE CITY MINOR SOFTBALL: The Dade City 9- to 10-year-olds needed only four innings for each of their first two wins, beating Land O'Lakes 20-9 on Saturday and Zephyrhills 13-3 on Monday in District 25.

Manager Chip Oliver said patience at the plate and little things, not just big hits, led to his team's success. On Monday, one key play was a sacrifice bunt by Emily Pennington, which led to a throwing error and two runs.

Dade City plays New Tampa tonight at 5:30 in the winner's bracket, and a win tonight puts the All-Stars in Thursday's championship game.

DADE CITY JUNIOR SOFTBALL: The 13 to 14-year-old girls beat Lutz 15-3 Saturday and faced Land O'Lakes late Monday in the winners' bracket. Against Lutz, Taylor Bush, Kaeleigh Hicks and Tanesha Ranson had two hits each for Dade City, and Brianne Farmer pitched a three-hitter.

DADE CITY JUNIOR BASEBALL: The 13-to 14-year-old boys play an elimination game at 8 tonight against Temple Terrace, which defeated Zephyrhills on Monday. Dade City lost its first game, 7-4, to Lutz.

"The name of the game was missed opportunities," manager Lou Giella said. "We're probably the two best teams in the tournament but had to face each other in the first round. Our goal right now is to get back to the winners' bracket. I'm pretty confident we have the ability to rise up through the losers' bracket and go from there."

[Last modified July 5, 2004, 21:59:05]