A few flubs place Terriers on right path

Hillsborough gains ground on district No. 1.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published April 4, 2007

TAMPA - Defensive lapses marred an otherwise outstanding pitcher's duel between Hillsborough's Joey Delgado and Middleton's Nevin Griffith.

Delgado allowed just one hit while striking out a season-high 12 Tigers. Griffith was equally stellar, striking out 11 on five hits.

In the end, Hillsborough made the fewest mistakes in the field and on the base paths for a come-from-behind 3-2 win in a key Class 5A-10 matchup.

"(Delgado) pitched a great game, but we gave it to them," Middleton coach Vernon Slater said. "Two big errors gave them the game. ...We made the most mistakes tonight. That's why we lost. It wasn't because they were a better team."

Having taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a double steal, Middleton (14-4, 9-3) looked to be in control with Griffith, already with seven strikeouts, toeing the mound to start the sixth. Hillsborough's Michael Burgess, however, reached safely on an error by Tigers first baseman Jamie Mallard with one out and advanced to third on Casey Nunez's single up the middle. Burgess tied it at two a batter later on a double steal attempt, the throw from Middleton shortstop Corey Thomas sailing well over his catcher's head.

Hillsborough (14-5, 9-3) took its first lead in the seventh when David Richardson, having reached base on a double, scored on another Middleton error, the Tigers' fourth of the game. Marco Lamonte hit a slow roller up the third-base line that should have been the third out, but the throw to first glanced off Mallard's glove and Richardson came home for the winning run.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Delgado (3-1) struck out Middleton's No. 7 and 8 batters for the final outs to place Hillsborough in a tie for second with Middleton in the district race and set up a showdown Thursday between the Terriers and Plant for first place

"He's just a great pitcher," White said of his senior right-hander. "He'll want to throw tomorrow. He's just got that kind of arm, that kind of mentality."

[Last modified April 3, 2007, 23:48:45]