Eagles' Leja shuts down Cougars' bats

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published March 31, 2007

DUNEDIN -There are leaders like seniors Mike Papa and Shawn Kale. There's Taylor Scaggs and Kyle Leja.

And then there's Chris Nickell and his muffler.

However they did it, East Lake got the best out of all five over spring break, capping their week at the Dunedin Spring Classic with a 4-0 win over Countryside Friday night in front of a large crowd at Knology Park for the Eagles' first Classic tournament title in school history.

Papa was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Kale had a hand in the Optimist Pitching Award, Scaggs and Leja were named to the All-Tournament team, and Nickell found an old muffler washed up on Dunedin Causeway earlier in the week, which was immediately deemed lucky.

Friday with muffler in hand, Nickell, a senior affectionately known as "Sox" in the dugout, gave Leja, a sophomore on the verge of a complete-game shutout, some encouraging words of advice.

"I told him, 'Get out there and keep doing what you're doing,' " said Nickell. "I said, 'What's the worst that can happen? We found a muffler on the beach.' "

Leja cruised three-up,-three-down from the seventh inning forward and recorded 11 strikeouts while allowing just three hits. It marked the third straight game an Eagles starter went the distance with double-digit strikeouts. Kale did it Monday versus Clearwater Central Catholic, and Scaggs did it Wednesday against Venice.

Papa got the Eagles the only run they'd need with Leja on the mound after walking in the first-inning and scoring on a Countryside error. Matt Gracie (2-for-4) later tripled home another run, and the Eagles (12-6) added two in the fifth.

East Lake 4, Countryside 0

Today's Finals

Mustang Invitational

At Northside Christian

Northside Christian vs. Largo, 7 p.m.

Steve Georgiadis Tournament

At Seminole

Seminole vs. Boca Ciega, 7 p.m.

[Last modified March 31, 2007, 07:34:28]