Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By ALEX LYNCH
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 10, 2001
DUNEDIN -- Palm Harbor University banged out 15 hits and 13 runs Monday en route to a 13-4 win over Central at the Dunedin Easter Tournament.
In a game that included eight errors, seven past balls or wild pitches, three balks (one for a run), four hit batsmen, a bases-loaded walk, three baserunners picked off and eight pitchers, one had to wonder who really wanted to win.
However, the Hurricanes proved to be much more aggressive at the plate and won by attrition thanks to fewer mental errors.
"Yeah, it was (ugly) but it's good for us because we've played so many tight games this year," PHU coach Greg Nichols said.
Though in all fairness, both teams substituted their starters after the fourth inning with PHU holding a commanding 11-4 lead.
Not to be outdone, the umpires joined in the confusion when the game's third batter, Adam Royster, hit what appeared to be a three-run home run.
The ball bounced high off the sidewalk behind the rightfield fence but the first base umpire called it a ground-rule double.
Nichols, well acquainted with the Englebert Complex, stormed onto the field and pointed out that the ball bounced off the sidewalk.
The umpires agreed and PHU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
After giving up four runs on four hits and four walks in two-thirds of an inning, Central starting pitcher Thomas Lobianco (3-3) was bounced in favor of Travis Tolbert.
Tolbert lasted four innings, allowing four hits and five more runs to cross the plate due to six errors by the Bears.
The win moved the Palm Harbor program a step closer to its goal of recording the school's first winning season in five years.
"That was one of the goals we set, so we think we're on our way to having a winning record," Nichols said.