Triumphant Tigers are no longer mediocre

The third-seeded Tigers captured the district title with a 9-6 victory over Jefferson, the fourth seed.

By Keith Niebuhr, Times correspondent
Published April 27, 2007

TAMPA - When catcher Kyle Lynch joined the Middleton baseball team four seasons ago, the Tigers were, at best, mediocre. "Most people," he said, "thought we were nothing."

Nobody thinks that now.

With its play this season - and specifically this week - Middleton proved it is far from average. Thursday, one day after ousting second-seeded Hillsborough, the third-seeded Tigers captured the district title with a 9-6 victory over Jefferson, the fourth seed.

"For this program, this is huge," Middleton coach Vernon Slater said. "We've been working for this all season."

For Middleton (20-6), it was truly a team effort.

Aaron Fludd threw six strong innings in relief to earn the victory. Shortstop Corey Thomas homered and had four RBIs. Derrick Hudgin homered, too. And in the field, Jarryd Reid's spectacular diving catch in left prevented two Jefferson (15-10) runs from scoring in the fifth.

When the game ended, the Tigers celebrated on the field and collected their trophy. Today, they will turn their attention to the playoffs, where the program is headed for the first time in the post-integration era.

"In the past, we had a problem with consistency," Thomas said. "Now, this team is jelling and things are falling into place."

Keith Niebuhr, Times correspondent

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 23:48:47]