Tigers topple Terriers

Nevin Griffith mows down 12 batters in Middleton's 6-1 win over Hillsborough.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published March 3, 2007

TAMPA - Middleton pitcher Nevin Griffith keeps a running log of his season strikeout total on the underside of the lid on his baseball cap.

If Griffith continues pitching like he did Friday against Hillsborough, he'll likely need a bigger hat by the end of the season.

Griffith thoroughly shut down a potent Hillsborough lineup by striking out 12 batters - giving him 36 strikeouts in 20 innings - and allowing just one run on six hits to help lead the Tigers to a 6-1 win.

"I was just thinking about making good pitches each time I threw the ball," said Griffith (3-0), a Florida International signee. "Every pitch was a battle within itself, and I was just trying to win those battles."

Middleton (5-1, 4-1) staked Griffith to an early lead by scoring three runs in the first inning. First baseman Jamie Mallard drove in the Tigers' initial run with a double, and catcher Kyle Lynch doubled to bring home two more.

Mallard, 3 for 4 with two RBIs, hit a towering shot to deep center off Hillsborough starter Matt Schurig in the third inning that caromed off the top of a light pole beyond the wall and put the Tigers up 4-0.

Schurig (2-1), who went 16-0 last year for Hillsborough (4-1, 4-1), didn't last much longer. He was pulled with one out in the fifth after giving up a second double to Mallard and having allowed five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Middleton's Jameel Scott drove in the Tigers' fifth run in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly, and a passed ball in the fifth allowed Mallard to score.

[Last modified March 2, 2007, 23:27:13]