Prime position

A string of district victories, including Saturday's over Alonso, vaults Gaither to the top of the standings.

By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published April 10, 2005

TAMPA - In one of Gaither's most important weeks of baseball, the Saladino Tournament winner has shown why it is a team that could move far into this postseason.

The Cowboys began the week second in Class 5A, District 7 behind Sickles. But a win over the Gryphons on Tuesday and two more wins, including Saturday's 6-4 victory over Alonso, has Gaither (16-1, 7-1) at the top of the district.

"We had three tough games this week," said Gaither coach Frank Permuy, whose team beat Chamberlain 7-3 on Friday. "It's a tough time for us. The guys have really come through."

With Saturday's win, the Cowboys are close to claiming a first-round bye in the district tournament, which comes with finishing first or second in the standings.

The team is stocked with talent, including four who will play Division I ball next year. Seniors Caleb Graham (signed with Florida State), Mario Duarte (Florida Atlantic) Braulio Pardo (USF) and Gus Fernandez (verbally committed to USF) will all make the jump next season.

The Cowboys didn't need their best against the Ravens (12-6, 5-3). Graham, the staff ace, went the distance without his best stuff and Gaither struggled defensively in the field with four errors. Alonso scored two runs on Cowboys errors.

Graham (6-1) yielded four runs, two earned, and gave up eight hits.

"I didn't have my stuff (Saturday)," Graham said. "The umpire was a little shaky but then I couldn't get my pitches across. I wasn't helping myself out. My defense struggled a little at the beginning but came through at the end. We always get a good amount of run support."

Leftfielder Greg Coffman singled in a run in the first inning and Fernandez made it 2-0 with an RBI double in the second. Pardo doubled in a pair of runs in the fourth and first baseman Daniel Dwyer tripled in a run in the sixth. Alonso gets another shot at the Cowboys Tuesday at Gaither.

"We'll go out with the same approach: play hard," Alonso coach Landy Faedo said. "Hopefully we'll play better baseball.

"If we would have beat them (Saturday), it probably would have been a three-way tie (in District 7). If we would have won our last three games we would have been the No. 1 seed. I don't know how that's going to happen now."

Alonso isn't giving up hope though.

"When the district tournament starts, it's a whole new season," Faedo said. "So it doesn't matter what happens (Tuesday)."

Gaither closes out its district schedule Friday against Wharton. Alonso will play its final district game against Sickles.

[Last modified April 10, 2005, 00:40:18]