Crystal River pitcher Bayer flirts with a perfect game
By DAWN REISS
Published March 16, 2005
Crystal River's Todd Bayer was one base runner away from a perfect game Saturday.
Bayer, threw 83 pitches, including 12 strikeouts, in a 7-0 no-hitter against Dunnellon. "It's very unusual," first-year coach Rob Cummins said of the winning performance. "It doesn't matter if it's a 7-8-year-old division or an adult league. To be that perfect without any walks could be a once in a lifetime experience."
The Pirates (4-1) may not have any pitchers like last year's Richard Covey, but they're armed with a strong starting rotation: Bayer, R.J. Cummings, Matt Schrantz and Kyle Daquanna.
Look for Daquanna, who was rained out of his first start against Hernando, to face Citrus on Thursday. Schrantz has posted a three-hitter in a 9-2 win over South Sumter, and R.J. Cummins fired a one-hitter in an 8-0 complete-game victory against South Lake.
Crystal River's coaching staff includes Joe Buccheri, who specializes in pitching. The assistant coached at Dunnellon and guided Crystal River to five district titles from 1987-1996. One of his pitchers was the Braves' Mike Hampton.
Crystal River's pitching staff is helped by a defense that averages less than one error and is led by senior second baseman Heath Frederick.
"He's just making outstanding plays," Rob Cummins said. "He has tremendous quickness. He honestly believes nothing is going to get by him on that side of the field."
DISAPPOINTING START: Citrus (1-4) has been plagued by errors. Against Springstead, the Hurricanes had 11 in a 13-3 loss.
"We are still searching for cohesiveness," coach John Bolin said. "If you don't have that, you won't win." Bolin said the effort has been there and the hitting has begun to improve. Junior catcher/first baseman Mark Xenophon is batting about .300. SIX-MAN FRONT: Six is a lucky number for Seven Rivers Christian.
That is how many Warriors are hitting .300 or better: Third baseman Cody Swain, centerfielder Drew Donavon, pitcher/infielder Chad Peets, infielder Taylor Swander, infielder/pitcher Mike Baierlein and first baseman Kyle Coburn.
Donavon leads the squad with a .385 average, and Swander doesn't have a strikeout in 16 at bats.
Seven Rivers (4-3) started off 3-1, winning 5-3 against First Academy, by forfeit over Creekside Christian and 18-6 against Montverde before falling 10-0 to First Academy.