Errors, offense boost Crusaders

By ROD GIPSON, EMERY SKOLFIELD and JOHN C. COTEY
Published April 28, 2006

SEFFNER - Miscues were as costly for Bayshore Christian as Seffner Christian's bats Thursday during championship game. Bayshore's defense committed seven errors to help Seffner Christian seal an 11-1 victory and the crown.

Both squads advance to regional play, which begins Tuesday with Seffner Christian (17-4) hosting while Bayshore Christian will open on the road.

Tied at one in the third inning, the Crusaders took advantage when Ben Cock's single to right scored Austin Cline. Sam Moorer and Cock later scored when a Bayshore error allowed Zack Brines to reach on an infield grounder.

After adding runs in the third and fourth innings, the Crusaders cemented the mercy-rule victory with a four-run sixth. Taylor Leggatt, Cline, Moorer and Cock all reached base in the and scored runs. Cock went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Cline added two hits and two runs.

Cline was equally effective on the mound, limiting the Faith Warriors to just two hits. While Cline, a lefty, struck out only two batters, he was strong throughout the game and had excellent defensive support. Bayshore's lone run came in the third when Zack Taylor's single scored Caleb Stenholm from second.

ST. PETERSBURG - Bradenton Saint Stephen's got to Tampa Prep starter Rob Pagano early, jumping to a four-run lead on No. 9 hitter Trevor Gagne's three-run homer in the second inning.

As it turned out, that was more than Falcons pitcher Johnny Lingo needed.

Lingo (7-2), a junior right-hander, faced three batters more than the minimum Thursday at Northside Christian, allowing two hits and one walk for the complete-game shutout at 4-0. The second-seeded Falcons (19-5) moved on to tonight's final against top-seeded Shorecrest (21-5).

"Lingo pounds the strike zone and keeps the ball away from your hitters," said Tampa Prep coach A.J. Hendrix, whose team finished 17-10. Pagano (5-5) took the loss, allowing nine hits and four runs, all earned, in six innings. He issued four walks and struck out eight.

ST. PETERSBURG - It wasn't the kind of performance everyone expected. There were no fireworks, no big innings, no extra base hits. Heck, the scoreboard didn't even start smoking.

Yes, Cambridge held its own against mighty Canterbury, which may provide a little solace after Thursday's 4-1 loss in the championship.

During the regular season, Canterbury, ranked second in the Class A poll, picked up 12-4 and 15-4 wins against the Lancers. But pitcher Austin Welti found a way to shut down the Crusader offense.

Canterbury picked up its first district title in 32 years of existence.

If not for some fielding blunders, it could be Cambridge hosting a playoff game Tuesday instead of hitting the road as runner-up.

Canterbury (24-3) had just four hits, but three were RBI singles coming after a pair of outfield errors and an errant pickoff throw put runners in scoring position.

Cambridge (16-10) led 1-0 on Will Bakos' first-inning double, but didn't get another hit off Canterbury's Joey Cuda until the seventh.

Welti matched Cuda, retiring the final 12 batters without allowing a hit and striking out four batters in all.

In the seventh, Cambridge's Erik Shears doubled, and an error put runners on first and third with two outs. But Cuda got Parris McLeod to bounce harmlessly to first.

[Last modified April 28, 2006, 02:21:18]