Class 5A region baseball semifinals

By Times Staff Writer
Published May 13, 2005

WHO: Cape Coral Mariner (24-3) vs. Clearwater (22-6) at Jack Russell Stadium, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Clearwater, No. 8 in the state, will start ace Mike Booth tonight and is riding a hot streak with wins in the PCAC and district title games, and the Tornadoes handled Seminole 9-3 in the region quarterfinals. Booth has come up big all season in his first as a starter, sporting a 6-3 record with a 1.24 ERA. Outfielder Minner Labrador has been the spark in the lineup, going 4-for-4 Tuesday and leading the team in batting average (.470). Clearwater will need to keep Josh Upchurch (.460, 13 doubles, four triples, four homers, 18 SBs) off the bases because Casey Coleman (.425, three HRs, 25 RBIs) usually gets him home. No. 9 Mariner was a surprise loser in the district final, but rebounded by beating Venice 3-2 Tuesday. The good news for the Tornadoes is the Tritons used Coleman, who is 13-0 with a 0.60 ERA, Tuesday. No. 2 starter Mark Rose (6-1, 1.44 ERA) will try and bounce back from a loss in the district final.

WHO: Punta Gorda Charlotte (15-13) vs. St. Petersburg (23-3) at Huggins-Stengel Complex, 4 p.m.

OUTLOOK: The Green Devils handled Palm Harbor University easily for their first playoff win since 1985, and now will try to win a second playoff game for the first time since 1954. Courtland Chambers (8-0, 1.64 ERA) will start for the Green Devils, with Adam Recvlohe (6-1, 2.62 ERA) on standby. Dale Brannon leads the Green Devils with a .463 batting average, and catcher Vince Grasso is up to .400 with a team-leading 24 RBIs. Charlotte is led by the trio of Robert Crews (.405), Brien Coppola (.341) and Mike Hudzina (.338), who all have 20-plus RBIs. Chad Burns, who is 3-5 with a 2.70 ERA, will start. Charlotte hasn't won a second-round playoff game since 1982.

[Last modified May 13, 2005, 00:57:16]