Crystal River ousts South Lake in 4A-9 opener

By LARRY BUGG
Published May 3, 2005

INVERNESS - Matt Schrantz allowed two hits and struck out 12 in Crystal River's 6-1 win over Groveland South Lake on Monday in the Class 4A, District 9 tournament at Citrus.

Schrantz (5-2) also drove in two runs with a single and sacrifice fly for the Pirates (13-9), who face top-seeded Leesburg at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Springstead faces Central at 4 p.m. today, and Citrus faces Lecanto at 7.

Shan Fairbanks took the loss for South Lake (8-17).

Schrantz struck out the last seven batters he faced.

"This was the best game of the year," Schrantz said. "All I needed to do was hit the outside fastball. I set them up with the curveball. I don't throw that hard. My ball moves enough to get the job done against most of the teams."

Pirates coach Rob Cummins said Schrantz overcame early problems.

"He struggled the first four innings hitting his spots," he said. "From the middle of the fourth on, he hit his spots. He threw fastball after fastball after fastball on the outside part of the plate."

Crystal River struck in the first. Heath Frederick, who was 3-for-4 with two runs, led off with a double. Chris Dvorscak sacrificed Frederick to third, and Frederick scored when Schrantz reached on an error.

The Pirates added two in the second. R.J. Cummins walked and advanced when Fairbanks threw away an attempted pickoff. Seth Metz then doubled Cummins home, and Frederick singled to score Metz.

Schrantz singled in a run in the fourth inning.

Metz led off the sixth with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Frederick reached on a bunt single. Metz scored on an error, and Schrantz hit a sacrifice fly to score Frederick.

[Last modified May 3, 2005, 01:18:22]