Apaches start out slow but cruise to easy win

ARLINGTON COUNTRY DAY 10, WARNER CHR. 0: The Apaches reach the title game once again by blasting the Eagles.

By KEITH NIEBUHR

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2000

TAMPA -- Jacksonville Arlington Country Day had the edge in experience and motivation in its Class A semifinal game against South Daytona Warner Christian Academy at Legends Field.

It didn't hurt that it also had more talent.

After a sluggish beginning, the Apaches routed Warner Christian 10-0 in five innings to reach their second state final in a row. Country Day (25-9) lost to Miami Brito -- whom they will face today -- 7-5 in last year's championship game after dropping two sure outs and blowing a 5-3 lead in the final inning.

"I'm not surprised (at the score). I'm surprised that we got off to such a slow start," ACD coach Jack Spencer said.

It took a five-run outburst in the fifth, keyed by Don Brickle's three-run homer, for the Apaches to put the game away. Brickle's homer, his eighth of the year, was followed later in the inning by a two-out, two-run single by Shawn Burns to end the game.

Brickle got the offense going with a triple to ignite a four-run second inning against Warner Christian starter Matt Brunnig.

Though he didn't give up any runs, Apache pitcher Chris Pillsbury (6-3) also struggled early. He walked three in the first two innings and was hurt by an error and a passed ball. In each inning, though, Pillsbury regrouped in time to end the threat.

In the first, he got out of a two-on, two-out jam with a strikeout. In the second, he struck out Matt Braly to start the inning, but Braly reached first on a passed ball. With one out, Pillsbury loaded the bases on back-to-back walks before striking out the next two batters.

"He intimidated a lot of the players," Warner Christian outfielder Matt Rodriguez said. "He was telling us what pitches he'd throw."

Warner Christian (23-9) had another chance to score in the third but failed to make any noise after beginning the inning with a pair of singles, its only two hits of the game.

"We had opportunities in the first three innings," Warner Christian coach Mike Wilkes said. "When we did get two hits, we didn't do anything with it."

Pillsbury was flawless after the third and finished with nine strikeouts.

"Once we settled down, we played our game," Pillsbury said.

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