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By KEITH NIEBUHR
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2001
INVERNESS -- Sam McLain's pitching days at Citrus are over.
A sore left arm that has plagued the senior for several weeks will keep him off of the mound for the remainder of the season.
"He's done," Citrus coach Mike Taylor said.
McLain was 1-0 with a team-best 1.31 ERA in 102/3 innings before he began experiencing pain in his throwing arm last month. The injury also has kept McLain, the team's best defensive outfielder, from playing in the field. He could return to centerfield this week.
"The other pitchers have stepped up, but it's killed us pitching-wise and in the outfield," Taylor said.
McLain is hitting .378 after going 6-for-10 last week.
GEORGIA ON ITS MIND: Crystal River's four-day trip to Atlanta was fruitful. The Pirates played two of the area's better teams, saw a Braves game, took a tour of Turner Field, went to an amusement park and drove to nearby Athens to watch a college game between Florida and Georgia.
"It was awesome," Pirates coach Brent Hall said. "It was a perfect trip. All the kids did a great job. They played hard and got to play against great baseball teams. And they got to bond. It was a great experience."
In all, nearly 100 people -- coaches, parents and players -- went on the trip. Hall said most of his players had never been to a major league game.
Two buses left at 2 a.m. Thursday and arrived at about 9:30 a.m. That afternoon, the Pirates (21-4) lost to Atlanta Westminster Academy 9-8. They then had their game against state-ranked Marietta Pope rained out. They beat Marietta 13-3 the next day.
"I think this is the most excited about the game they've ever been," Hall said.
PART III: When Citrus locked up the No. 3 seed for next week's Class 3A, District 6 tournament, it all but assured itself of a third meeting with Tommy Boss, ace pitcher for second-seeded Dunnellon. The teams play April 24 at Dunnellon in one semifinal.
The Hurricanes (13-10) are 1-1 against Boss, a University of Florida signee, this season. The win came two weeks ago.
"That should help us," Taylor said. "But then again, he's too good of a player to let up. He's going to be tough to beat. No matter when you play him, you have to play good."
Taylor is not sure who his starting pitcher will be against Dunnellon. He will choose from Matt Maggiore, Justin Rogers and Flint Whitelaw.
Crystal River is the top seed. The Pirates will play the South Sumter-Wesley Chapel winner in the other semifinal.
TOUGH FINISH: Citrus closes the regular season this week against Belleview, Leesburg and Ocala Forest -- all quality teams.
"I always like to play the good guys to see how you stack up," Taylor said. "I don't think it can hurt you. I think it gets you ready for districts a little better. Some people like to smooth into it with either days off or games against weaker teams, but we don't."
HEATING UP: A sore arm kept Crystal River's Will Bleakley from pitching until a few weeks ago, but the injury appears to be a thing of the past. In the win over Marietta (which fell to 14-4), Bleakley allowed four hits and three earned runs to improve to 2-0.
"He threw the ball great," Hall said. "He just dominated the whole night."
TODAY: Ocala Forest at Citrus, 6:30; Springstead at Crystal River, 6:30.
WEDNESDAY: Lecanto at Belleview, 7.
THURSDAY: Ocala Christian Academy at Seven Rivers Christian, 4; Dunnellon at Lecanto, 6:30; Leesburg at Citrus, 6:30; Wildwood at Crystal River, 7.
FRIDAY: Crystal River at Hernando, 6:30; Citrus at Belleview, 7.