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Team from Florida banged up for semis

By SAM STANTURF

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 9, 2001

GULFPORT -- While Florida (4-0) continues to bolster its local following, the team from Apopka has suffered the misfortune of losing two of its top three pitchers just before the the start of the Southeastern Region semifinals.

Despite the losses, Florida earned the No. 1 seed Wednesday when Virginia, which defeated North Carolina 7-4 to remain undefeated, failed to better Florida's total of 32 runs in their four games. Virginia, with a 17 runs in the four-game span, will be the region's No. 2 seed.

"To lose one of your top guys to a broken leg and then quickly lose another to an elbow, it's going to slow you down a bit," Florida coach Bob Brewer said. "But we play with a lot of heart and we think we're in a good position to win this thing and move on."

In its four wins, Florida has been a powerhouse of both offense and pitching. Twice the team has tied the tournament record for home runs in a game with five. When the bats aren't present, its the pitching that shines.

"We've been doing all the little things right and getting the key hits when we need them," Brewer said. "The people here in the area have started to take notice. We took the team to a Devil Rays game the other day and I'd say about 15 people came up to me and congratulated us on what we've done."

Florida will face No. 4-seed North Carolina at 10 a.m. in today's first semifinal. Southeastern No. 2-seed Virginia faces No. 3-seed Georgia. The winners play in Saturday's Southeastern final. LOUISIANA 4, OKLAHOMA 2: Louisiana pitcher Myrio Richard threw six innings of one-hit ball. Three runs in the bottom of the second inning helped Louisiana erase a 2-0 Oklahoma lead.

VIRGINIA 7, NORTH CAROLINA 4: Virginia also moved to 4-0 thanks to the bats of shortstop Arman Moniri and leftfielder Ted Williams. Moniri homered and drove in two runs, and Williams went 2-for-2 and drove in two.

ARKANSAS 7, TENNESSEE 1: Arkansas pitcher James Bennett threw a complete game, allowing one run on five hits and striking out 12. First baseman Chase Cates provided the offense by going 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBI.

GEORGIA 4, SOUTH CAROLINA 3: Georgia managed two runs in both the third and fourth innings.. Third baseman David Baron singled in the third to give his team take an early 2-0 lead. Georgia took advantage of an error and a wild pitch to get two runs in the fourth.

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