Spongers keep cool in heated matchup

Tarpon Springs and East Lake tried to intimidate each other before Wednesday's semifinal.

By DOUG KATES
Published April 26, 2007

DUNEDIN - Tarpon Springs and East Lake tried to intimidate each other during infield practice before Wednesday's semifinal and they never warmed up to each other before game's end.

East Lake used a walk, stolen base, wild pitch and single to take the early lead, and the 1-0 advantage lasted through four innings.

In the top of the fifth, things began going wrong for East Lake when starting catcher Michael Papa said something in the batter's box the home plate umpire didn't like and was ejected.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tarpon Springs used two hits, two walks and two stolen bases to score a pair of runs, and in the sixth inning used three walks, three errors, three stolen bases and a wild pitch to add two more. The Spongers (15-11) finished with a 4-1 victory, and the game finally ended despite a lengthy delay when the Eagles (19-8) claimed the Spongers made an illegal substitution late in the game.

"We just play baseball," said Tarpon Springs coach Dana Genna. "They were trying to intimidate us."

Joey Kasey was the winning pitcher with a five-hitter. Cody Bergen had a pair of singles. For the Eagles, Blake Oliver had a pair of singles and the lone RBI.

In the second semifinal, Bill Perillo had a two-run triple, a double and a single as Dunedin (22-5) advanced to the final with a 9-2 victory over Palm Harbor University (12-12). Winning pitcher Clay Kollenbaum had a three-run double in the first inning and allowed only four hits in six innings on the mound, striking out eight.

Class 2A-11

Shorecrest's pitchers thwart most lineups, but they were no match for Northside Christian. The Mustangs sprayed balls to every nook and cranny in their 11-4 trouncing of the top seed.

David Edwards and Ryan McDonald each had three hits for the Mustangs. It was more than enough support for Will Crispell, who pitched five innings and struck out eight to get the win.

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 00:34:42]