Terriers, West Tampa eliminated at state

By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published August 6, 2005

CLEARWATER - West Tampa Post 248 and the Terriers Baseball Club each lost for the second time in two days, exiting early from the American Legion state tournament at Jack Russell Stadium.

In the afternoon game, West Tampa was on the verge of losing by the 10-run rule to New Port Richey Paradise Post 79 in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the game ended even more abruptly.

New Port Richey led 12-3 when an incidental collision at the plate knocked West Tampa catcher Dave Regidor out of the game. West Tampa did not have any players to sub in, and despite some pleading with the umpires, American Legion officials ruled the team couldn't play with only eight players.

The game was called and West Tampa, which lost 14-4 to Vero Beach on Thursday, ended its season at 18-5. New Port Richey plays a loser's bracket game today at 10 a.m.

West Tampa trailed New Port Richey 2-1 after six innings. But New Port Richey pulled away in the seventh, scoring nine runs in an inning where every hitter in its lineup reached first base.

"We were in the game until the seventh," said West Tampa assistant coach Jason Sparks, who stood in for manager Pop Cuesta. "The wheels just came off there in the end."

Sparks said Regidor's right thumbnail was torn off and his thumb bled profusely. Regidor went to the hospital after the game.

The Terriers, who lost 3-1 to Sanford Post 53 on Thursday, fell 15-10 to Jacksonville Post 88 in Friday's early game to finish the summer 24-10.

Terriers starter Orlando Bacon couldn't get out of the third inning, giving up seven runs (six earned) on three hits.

Terriers Catcher Casey Nunez hit a pair of home runs.

COLT WORLD SERIES: With a 12-0 win over Germany in its second game of pool play Friday in Lafayette, Ind., the Wellswood Colts (ages 15-16) continued their bid for a spot among next week's final four.

Drew Malley started for Wellswood, giving up no runs and only three hits in three innings. Eric Doty closed out a short six-inning game, giving up no hits and no runs. Doty also helped at the plate, hitting 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.

The Tampa team had 15 hits in the game.

After a scoreless first inning, Chris Kuzdale blasted a two-run homer over the centerfield fence at the 350-foot mark. He hit a second home run in the same spot later in the game and finished 3-for-5, with three RBIs and a triple. He also scored three runs.

Josh Graham also hit a two-RBI home run and scored twice. Keith Diaz went 2-for-3, scored twice and recorded two RBIs. Justin Salas went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Pete Millan went 2-for-3.

"They were a little flat in the first, but Chris Kuzdale gave us a spark in the second and it seems like everyone got involved then," coach Robbie Chavis said. "Hopefully, this will be a springboard for the final pool game with the Michigan team and the semifinals and finals next week."

BRONCOS WORLD SERIES: The 11- to 12-year-old Broncos of Wellswood dropped their first pool game to Arizona 14-7 in a late game Thursday in Monterey, Calif. Devon Smith took the loss for Wellswood.

Dominic Millan led the Wellswood offense with a two-run homer, but he had plenty of support. Michael Estevez was 2-for-2 with an RBI, Nick Alfonso went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Chris Toney slugged a double.

The Tampa team plays another late game tonight. It needs to win both remaining pool-play games to move on to the semifinals.

- TERRY JONES, Times correspondent

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:37:26]