 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Lufkin KO's Crystal River
By CAREY FREEMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, Crystal River manager Ed Stack knew his mercy-rule win over Lufkin, Texas, in an opening-round game of the Dixie Majors World Series was a bit of a fluke. That point became painfully clear Tuesday. A 7-4 loss eliminated Crystal River from the tournament in North Charleston, S.C., and kept Lufkin in the hunt for a record fifth World Series title. "I think they just snuck up and beat us at our own game," Stack said. "We beat a very good team when we beat them 11-1 the other day, and they made us beat ourselves today." Crystal River took an early lead, but couldn't make it hold up as Lufkin scored three runs in the final three innings for the win. Clayton Trenary helped spark Crystal River to a 2-0 lead with a homer in the first that scored Danny Caron, who led off the inning with a single. Crystal River scored twice in the second behind an RBI single from Matt Maggiore, but couldn't produce any more runs. Lufkin pulled within two after the second inning, then tied the score in the fourth when an error allowed two runs home. Crystal River won five straight to claim Citrus County's first Dixie League state championship since 1989. The team then won two in a row to start the week, whipping Lufkin by 10 runs Saturday and Hope City, Ark., 12-3 on Sunday. A loss to Meridian, Miss., on Monday and to Lufkin in their rematch ousted Crystal River from the double-elimination tourney. "It was a great ride," Stack said. "Winning the state championship was a great thing, and this was just icing on the cake. "Florida is the best for baseball," he said, "and I think we turned some heads up here."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
Citrus Times |
