Seminole can't solve Clearwater ace

By ROVEN YAU
Published April 21, 2005

SEMINOLE - Clearwater starter Michael Ortega kept things simple during a 5-0 win over Seminole on Wednesday.

Armed with a fastball and curveball, Ortega (5-2) mixed locations and changed pitch speeds to baffle Seminole batters.

"When you play a good team like Seminole you have to make things happen," Clearwater coach Doug Banks said. "A lot of people come in here and they get intimidated by the good teams they've had and the good team they have this year.

"(Ortega's) the smartest kid I've had the pleasure of coaching in high school baseball."

Ortega did little to help Seminole jump back into the game after his Clearwater teammates rallied for a pair of runs in the first inning. The right-hander struck out eight and scattered three hits to earn the complete-game shutout. He also limited Seminole (15-6) to one walk.

Justin Fletcher and Shawn Livernois provided all the run support Clearwater (16-5) needed with run-scoring hits.

Fletcher got things started in the first by hitting a two-run single on a 2-0 offering from Seminole starter Billy Falasco (2-1). Seminole escaped further damage when rightfielder Ryan Reilly made a diving catch near the warning track to rob Kyle Mueller of extra bases.

Livernois extended the lead in the third by ripping a stand-up double into the leftfield gap for the first of his two RBIs.

A trio of Warhawk pitchers issued five walks and two balks, which helped extend innings and put runners in scoring position. Defensive miscues also helped complicate matters.

"If you can't do the little things right, then you have to rely on more advanced-type things," Seminole coach Rob Francis said. "Now you really put pressure on high school kids. We've prepared for every situation we saw (Wednesday)."

Edmon Rakipi rounded out Clearwater scoring with an RBI single in the sixth. Fletcher, Ortega and Livernois all finished with multiple hits.

ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg wrapped up the south division for the Pinellas County Athletic Conference race.

Dale Brannon pitched seven scoreless innings and Charlie Golenbock had the game-winning RBI as the Green Devils beat rival Northeast 7-0.

"This was a huge win," said Brannon, who has signed with Division-I Connecticut. "It was a big district win and was nice to wrap up the south knowing we're in the PCAC so early."

Brannon also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs as he posted his sixth win of the season and lowered his ERA to .110. He limited Northeast to only three hits and issued only one walk.

"Dale's our big gun," St. Petersburg coach Stefan Futch said. "He's steady, real calm out there, which carries over to the rest of the team."

St. Petersburg (16-2) will face the winner of the north division, which is still up for grabs with three teams battling for the top spot.

- CHRIS GIRANDOLA, Times correspondent

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:06:12]