Forest Hills claims state Pony crown

By JARRETT GUTHRIE
Published June 28, 2007

The Forest Hills Pony League all-star team won the state championship Tuesday, defeating the Lake Worth Pony team from West Palm Beach 8-4 in the final.

The team consisted of 14 players between ages 13 and 14.

With the team down 4-3 in the seventh inning Tuesday, Alex Merceron scored the tying run on a Marcus Posluszny single and the game went to extra innings. Forest Hills outlasted Lake Worth and scored four runs in the top of the 10th to win the double-elimination tournament.

Brett Blair, Brandon Pearl and tournament MVP and closer Ryan Caporice paced the pitching. Blair had a grand slam in the tournament and Cody Robinson also provided a home run.

The team was coached by Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, Brian Jeter and Tom Bopp.

"Without any of the 14 players on this team, there is no way we would have won the championship, " Blair said. "They were all integral to our success."

Little League District 6

In 9-10 softball, Mckenzee Herron pitched six innings of relief to lead Bayshore/West Tampa to a 10-6 win over Tampa Bay. The win puts Bayshore/West Tampa in the district championship against Palma Ceia. With one loss already in the double-elimination tournament, Bayshore/West Tampa must win two games.

Palma Ceia advanced in the winners' bracket Tuesday, defeating Bayshore/West Tampa. The teams were tied at zero through three innings when Kylie Brown scored on a Megan Przeslawski single in the top of the fourth. Palma Ceia was helped by the pitching of Kasay Wishart, who threw a two-hitter and with both Bayshore/West Tampa two runs scoring on errors, didn't allow an earned run.

District 13

Bloomingdale American defeated Bloomingdale National 6-0 to capture the district title in the 9-10 softball division Wednesday. ... Pinecrest's Madison Powers hit a home run in 9-10 softball early in the week. ...In 10-11 baseball Tuesday, Bloomingdale American defeated Pinecrest 10-3 as Jake Bear (2-0) pitched his second complete game of the tournament, striking out eight. Jake Gagain hit his second homer of the tourney, while Zach Hodges went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.

On Wednesday night Bloomingdale American beat North Brandon 9-3. Spencer Lewis led the team offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double and a triple. Gagain pitched a complete game, striking out seven.

Bloomingdale American, with one loss in the double-elimination tournament, faces Bloomingdale National tonight at 7 in the district championship at East Point.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 23:34:46]