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Citrus gets four hits ... and still wins

By KEITH NIEBUHR

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2001

BUSHNELL -- Despite another unproductive night at the plate, Citrus escaped with a win.

It can thank Luke Czerwinski.

The sophomore tossed a complete-game two-hitter and allowed one earned run as the Hurricanes beat South Sumter 5-2.

Citrus (9-4), which has won two of its past three games, managed a meager four hits but took advantage of two South Sumter errors en route to the win.

"Luke did a great job, and we made the plays we had to make," Citrus coach Mike Taylor said. "Luke was outstanding."

Czerwinski (2-0) was in command from the start. He allowed one hit in the first inning and one more in the third, an infield single that scored a run. A Citrus error allowed another run to cross the plate, which made it 2-2.

But Czerwinski prevented any further damage by inducing a weak two-out grounder that he scooped up and tossed to first.

South Sumter (2-8), which did not threaten again, went hitless the rest of the way. Czerwinski retired the last seven batters. "I felt like I was in control," Czerwinski said. "I had my changeup working good.

"That was my best pitch." The Citrus bats struggled against South Sumter starter J.B. Mason (1-2).

One of its hits was an infield single. One was lost in the lights by an outfielder, and another fell in just between the Raiders' shortstop and centerfielder. The top four hitters in the Citrus lineup went a combined 1-for-12.

"We are struggling at the plate," Taylor said.

Citrus' first hit, an infield single by catcher Ross Keesling in the second inning, brought home a run for a 1-0 lead. It added a run in the third on a Matt Maggiore single to rightfield and another in the fourth on a Clint Davis double that was misplayed. With Citrus leading 3-2, the Hurricanes used three walks, a fielder's choice RBI by Maggiore and a single by Czerwinski to score two runs in the fifth.

"We've got a lot of soul-searching to do," Taylor said.

"I have no idea what we're doing, and I'm so ticked off. Right now, we're playing like little leaguers."

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