Terrapins turn it on vs. AFA

By JIM REESE
Published May 4, 2005

TAMPA - Shorecrest Prep and Tampa Prep will meet for the district championship after impressive victories Tuesday.

Each team combined timely hitting and effective pitching to post wins over St. Stephen's and Admiral Farragut, respectively. After Admiral Farragut (6-17) cut the Tampa Prep lead to 4-2 in the fifth, third baseman Brad Buchman switched positions with starting pitcher Robbie Pagano. Buchman shut down the Blue Jackets over the next three innings, allowing one hit while striking out five, all looking, to earn the save in the 9-2 win.

Tampa Prep's Will Wiand sealed the victory when he drove a 1-2 fastball deep over the rightfield fence with two Terrapins aboard in the fifth.

"I was very happy the way we played ," Tampa Prep coach A. J. Hendrix said. "We got good hitting when we needed it and our relief pitching was terrific. We scored five of our runs with two outs and that's always a sign of a team that won't give up."

Shorecrest Prep (17-10) got a two-run first-inning home run from Anthony Katchuk, his third of the season, and it was all the runs Ray Skrotsky (6-4) would need to shut out the Falcons 6-0. After John Kubicki singled with one out in the initial stanza, Katchuk drove a 3-0 pitch over the rightfield fence.

The Chargers added three runs in the third when an infield error with the bases loaded allowed two runs to score. Nick Maliska then drove in the third with a sharp single. St. Stephen's, the No. 2 seed, finished the season 13-9.

The Terrapins (15-8) host Shorecrest Prep on Thursday at 7.

LAKELAND - Berkeley Prep sophomore Ryan Acosta hit a three-run double with the bases loaded and one out to lead the Buccaneers to a 5-0 win over Fort Meade.

Berkeley Prep will play Lakeland McKeel Academy in the championship Thursday. McKeel routed Lakeland Christian 12-2.

Berkely Prep has 14 underclassmen on the team. Coach Justin Houston said it was a big win for such a young team.

"We've had trouble closing games in the beginning of the season," Houston said. "They came out with their backs against the wall and opened closed doors in a very workman-like way."

- THE LEDGER

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:58:13]