Holiday majors win; heat takes toll on juniors

By JOHN C. COTEY, STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000

The Majors got off to big start Saturday by shutting out Oldsmar 3-0 at their home field in Holiday.

Derek Shaw allowed just one hit in the blanking, and struck out 10 batters. Brandon Decker had two hits and Zack Webber and Tony Shaffer each had a hit.

The majors next game is Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Safety Harbor American.

The juniors finally took the field Sunday to take on Clearwater National, and for five innings rode the arm of Joey Nordon to a 2-0 lead.

But in the sixth, the blazing temperatures and wandering throws of the fielders began to take their toll as Clearwater rallied for a 4-2 win at the Englebert Complex in Dunedin.

"Everybody played well through the fifth inning and then started struggling," manager Dave Richards said. "I think it was the heat."

Nordon pitched through the critical sixth inning in which Clearwater scored all of its unearned runs. That erased the 2-0 lead that Holiday built on Michale Reid's RBI single in the second inning (scoring Sean Jones) and Nordon's run on a wild pitch in the third.

Holiday's 9-10 team lost its opener 10-0 to Hudson.

WEST PASCO: In the only game played by West Pasco teams this weekend, the majors dropped an 8-4 decision to Largo American in pool play.

West Pasco played Hudson in junior action Monday night, the 9-10 team plays Wednesday and the seniors start later this week.

HUDSON: The 9-10 team coached by Ricky Hampshire routed Holiday 10-0 Sunday at Canal Park in Oldsmar. The majors team played Monday night.

SHADY HILLS: Shady Hills, which does not field softball teams in the District 15 All-Star series, boasts two unbeaten baseball teams.

The seniors defeated Chiefland 11-2 Saturday and Dunnellon 3-2 on Sunday. The Shady Hills seniors' next game is Thursday against Crystal River.

The Shady Hills majors shut out Crystal River 9-0 Saturday and faces Ocala American on Thursday.

Shady Hills' 9-10 and juniors cannot afford another loss in the double-elimination series. The 9-10 All-Stars split a pair of weekend games, beating Chiefland 10-9 before a 12-1 loss to Central Citrus. The 9-10 team plays Ocala American on Wednesday.

The Shady Hills juniors dropped their opening game, 13-12 to Central Citrus. The Shady Hills juniors play Thursday against Crystal River.

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To get Little League results in the paper, coaches and parents are urged to contact John C. Cotey at 727-869-6261, or by e-mail at coteyjohn@aol.com.

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