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Sponger errors propel Mustangs to title win

By ERIC MUSKATEVC

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 13, 2001

TARPON SPRINGS -- In a semifinal of the Tarpon Spring Tournament on Tuesday, Northside Christian's Lastings Milledge hit a home run that easily cleared the 400-foot plus centerfield wall at Sponger Field.

Against host Tarpon Springs in Thursday's final, Milledge touched all four bases again; the difference being he only hit the ball about 6 feet. Behind poor defense by Tarpon and a complete game from Shawn Ahern, the Mustangs cruised by the Spongers 10-5 for the inaugural tournament title.

The Milledge "home run" epitomized the game.

In the fifth, Milledge took a check swing at a high fastball that grazed his bat as he turned away. The ball trickled into fair territory. He took off for first, and pitcher Marc Nunez sailed the ball into the first-base bullpen.

It was one of seven errors by the Tarpon infield, and by the time the play ended, Milledge was slapping high-fives in the dugout.

"Every time he's at the plate, everyone out there has the pressure on them to make a play," Northside coach Darrell Don said. "We usually play that smart baseball. We get a lot of breaks, put some pressure on them and get out to a lead."

Northside (19-3) jumped to a 3-0 lead in the third, but Tarpon scored two runs in the fourth. Northside answered with a run or better in the last four innings. Tarpon scored its final three runs on three hits in the seventh inning.

Scott Leffler went 3-for-3 for the Mustangs and was named tournament MVP.

Steve Doetsch ripped a three-run double in the sixth inning. Ahern, named the tournament's best pitcher, kept Tarpon in check by striking out seven.

Nunez went 6 2/3 for the Spongers, allowing eight hits and striking out four.

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