 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
'Canes start season with titleBy KEITH NIEBUHR and BRANT JAMES © St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2001 Citrus is off and running. The Hurricanes (4-0) capped a perfect week by beating Pasco 10-7 on Saturday to win the 16-team Tom Varn Invitational in Brooksville. On the way to the championship, Citrus also beat Wesley Chapel (6-2), Hernando (12-5) and Ridgewood (8-2), giving the Hurricanes their best start in coach Mike Taylor's four seasons. "We've got plenty of things to work on, but for being early in the season, we've done pretty well," Taylor said. "It's good to get out of the box this way. We're a little further along and we've got a little better depth his year (than last year)," he said. The 'Canes got strong play from Sam McLain and Kyle Holtzhower, who were solid on the mound and at the plate. Luke Czerwinski pitched well, earning the win against Ridgewood. "They were by far the best team at our field and ended up being the best in the tournament," Hernando coach Tim Sims said of the Hurricanes. "They will be a surprise in this area. They are well-coached and they've put two outstanding (junior varsity) years together leading up to now." MANO-Y-MANO, PART I: Crystal River passed its first major test of the season last week when the Pirates toppled Dunnellon hurler Tommy Boss, a University of Florida signee. Behind the arm of junior right-hander Clayton Trenary, Crystal River won 7-5. Trenary (1-0) struck out 10 batters and allowed two earned runs to gain the complete-game win. Boss (1-1) gave up seven hits and was touched for five second-inning runs. "That was what we wanted to do," Trenary said. "It was a great win because (Boss) is an awesome pitcher. Everybody was all over him. Everybody hit him. "Confidence-wise, it was great," Trenary said. "Everybody thought Boss was going to come in and shut us down. I'm sure nobody thought we'd beat them." The Pirates, who finished with a 7-21 last season, is 2-0. "I think (beating Dunnellon) builds a lot of confidence," first-year Crystal River coach Brent Hall said. "Now they know that no matter who they face they have a chance to succeed, and that was what we were hoping to accomplish." Trenary (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) said he has a fastball that runs in the 85-mph range, and a curve ball that, when on, is "unhittable." Trenary's lone earned runs against Dunnellon came when Boss smacked a two-run homer in the seventh inning. "I was dead tired," Trenary said. "I was just trying to get the game over with." The Pirates play Dunnellon again March 5. NOTABLE: Because many of its players are playing basketball, Seven Rivers Christian will not begin its season until March 8. ... Citrus threw eight of its 10 pitchers in the Tom Varn Invitational. ... In its loss to Citrus, Hernando committed 11 errors. - Coaches are asked to call in results to (800) 333-7505, ext. 8123, after games.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
|
