Freshman coming along nicely for the Panthers

Michael Givens had a pleasant day at the plate and pitched a few innings in a 13-2 win over Bloomingdale.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published March 5, 2006

VALRICO - Plant freshman infielder Michael Givens has played just eight games at the varsity level but already is developing into a top player on a deep Panthers squad.

He demonstrated his ability Saturday, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs while also pitching two scoreless innings in leading Plant to a 13-2 win over Bloomingdale.

"For a freshman, Mike is certainly doing everything that any coach would ask for," Plant coach Dennis Braun said. "He's a great athlete with a great arm; we love watching him play. He's going to be a good one. Actually, he already is a good one."

Givens, who drew a walk in his first plate appearance, doubled in the top of the third to plate Plant's first run.

In his next at-bat, Givens broke the game open with a two-out base hit to rightfield that brought home two runs. Plant (5-2) scored five runs in that fourth inning, thanks to five base hits (two doubles) and two Bloomingdale errors, for an insurmountable 7-1 lead.

"We didn't swing the bats well early in the year, but we're starting to come around," Braun said.

"If the other team makes some errors, it takes a little pressure off of us," he added. "It helps us settle down and swing the bats better."

Givens, who struck out two batters in pitching a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, plated three more runs in the seventh with a bases-clearing double that brought Plant's lead to 13-2.

"I'm hitting the ball well now," Givens said. "I'm trying to not act like a freshman but to be a leader for the team."

Bloomingdale (5-3) got a run back in the bottom half of the third when second baseman Tommy Reed doubled and scored later in the inning. Plant's scoring outburst in the fourth, however, sealed Bloomingdale's fate.

"We made a lot of mistakes in the field," Bloomingdale coach K.B. Scull said. "When we hang zeros in that error column, we play pretty well. We didn't do that today, however."

[Last modified March 5, 2006, 00:53:19]