Armwood's Pete takes pop out of Dunedin

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 3, 2000

DUNEDIN -- Dunedin missed its offense Tuesday. For that, it will miss the rest of the post-season.

Armwood pitcher Mike Pete threw a five-hit shutout and struck out 14 to lead the Hawks in a 2-0 victory over the Falcons, who were ranked fourth in the state in Class 4A.

The loss was puzzling for Dunedin (24-5), which had ended April with an offensive explosion. The Falcons scored a combined 68 runs in their previous five games to win their Easter tournament and the district title.

Then came Tuesday's game and Dunedin drew blanks.

Most of that had to do with Pete, who was all too familiar with what the Falcons offense could do. During the summer, Pete played with six Dunedin players on the Roughriders AAU team.

Already knowing their tendencies, Pete stayed away from fastballs and threw a heavy dose of off-speed stuff at the Falcons.

"I knew I was capable of this type of performance," said Pete, who improved his record to 10-3. "I hit my spots and they chased my pitches. It was nice to come in here against a bunch of guys I know and win."

Pete got the offensive support he needed in the third inning when Adam Greco hit a double into rightfield to drive in Matt Cody and Brenden McArther.

BOB PUTNAM

4A-3: Jesuit socks Lakewoo

"I just didn't feel good in the bullpen," he said. "I wasn't hitting my spots.

By evening's end, the junior felt much better. His complete-game, 12-strikeout performance led the Tigers to a 7-1 win in the quarterfinal.

Jesuit (17-13) hosts Barron Collier on Friday. Lakewood ended its season at 16-12-1 after a three-hit, five-error night.

"We helped them out considerably," Spartans coach Angelo LoGrange said. "You can't swing at bad pitches."

Lakewood opened with a Kyle Crump single before the next three batters struck out. In the bottom of the inning, Jesuit scored the only two runs it needed after a double steal and an error by third baseman Bill Medernach.

Jesuit followed with two-run innings in the third and sixth, both of which included Lakewood errors.

Lakewood's run came on a sixth-inning home run by first baseman Chris Brown.

-- JOE HUMPHREY

4A-3: Barron Collier dazzler

RIVERVIEW -- Pete Koronas had the game-winning hit, but pitcher Chris Resop was the real star in Naples Barron Collier's 1-0 win over Riverview.

The right-hander used an overpowering fastball and the occasional off-speed pitch to fan 15 while allowing three hits. He improved to 9-2.

Barron Collier is 16-15.

Riverview (15-11), making its first playoff appearance, was hitless after the fourth inning. Six of the Sharks' strikeouts were looking, and only once did they have a player reach second.

"We didn't swing the bat," Riverview coach Todd Harvey said. "That's been our weakness all year when we lose."

Riverview's lack of hitting spoiled the performance of junior pitcher Eric Beattie, who had 15 strikeouts and surrendered four hits in seven innings.

Barron Collier laced three of its hits in the second, keyed by Jay Ralston's leadoff double to center. Three batters and one Riverview error later, Koronas singled to right to score Ralston for a 1-0 lead.

Beattie settled down and allowed two hits the rest of the way. At one point, he struck out five straight batters. In the fifth, he fanned four thanks to a passed ball.

"I was happy about my appearance, but we just don't get any run support," Beattie said.

A second-year program, Riverview returns all but four players next season.

-- KEITH NIEBUHR

3A-3: Miscues aid Jefferson

BARTOW -- Jefferson took advantage of five Bartow errors and defeated the Yellow Jackets 5-1.

Jefferson (13-13) was led by catcher Eugene Rodriguez, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Adriel Fiello and Chase Manuel each drove in a run for Jefferson, which had seven players collect hits.

All five of its runs came in the first two innings.

Jefferson pitcher Jason Weintraub struck out six while allowing five hits.

Bartow fell to 16-12.

-- TIMES STAFF

2A-3: Berkeley Prep romps

BRADENTON -- Berkeley Prep exploded for five runs in the top of theseventh inning to hand host Lakewood Ranch an 11-3 loss. Berkeley Prep (18-13) will play the winner of the Lake Highland-Frostproof game on Friday, according to coach Fred Pisano.

Lakewood Ranch ended its season with a 15-15 record.

Pisano praised the pitching of senior Matt Winn, who scattered fivehits in going the distance for Berkeley Prep. He also rapped a two-runtriple n the sixth.

Pat Biladeau hit a towering home run, his first of the season, overthe leftfield fence to lead off the third.

"We jumped out early and that's critical," Pisano said. "But thenwe sat back on our heels and let them score three unearned runs on us inthe fourth.

"But it was a great outing for Matt (Winn). It was his secondstraight complete game."

-- JABBO GORDON

A-3: Lancers roll to victory

TAMPA -- Separated in distance by about 45 miles, Seminole Presbyterian and Lakeland Evangel Christian appeared to be even farther apart on the baseball field after the Lancers rolled to a five-inning 25-0 quarterfinal victory at Doc Nance Field.

Seminole Presbyterian (21-6), ranked third in the state, got a combined no-hitter from starter Jared DeVirgilis (4-0) and Eric Perez, banged out 15 hits and took advantage of numerous mistakes by the Chargers (5-6), including 11 errors.

"I feel sorry for the other guys," Seminole Presbyterian coach Joe Pizzio said. "I think they're more a JV-geared program than a varsity program to get stuck up against us."

Seminole Presbyterian advances to the semifinal 7 p.m. Friday at Doc Nance Field against the St. Petersburg Canterbury-Fort Myers Canterbury winner.

DeVirgilis, who pitched the first three innings, and Perez combined for eight strikeouts and three walks. No Charger hit the ball out of the infield, and Lancer catcher Stuart Johnson threw out three runners attempting to steal.

Perez had three hits along with Tommy Salemy, who drove in three runs with a triple and double. Seminole Presbyterian had seven extra-base hits, including an inside-the-park homer by Adam Rogers.

Four Evangel Christian pitchers were charged with nine walks and 12 wild pitches.

-- DON JENSEN

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