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By BOB PUTNAM
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2001
KISSIMMEE -- After playing 23 games in 1 1/2 months, Palm Harbor will get what it was looking to receive Wednesday at the Senior League World Series semifinal.
A break.
Palm Harbor remained undefeated, beating Maracaibo, Venezuela, 5-1 to advance to Saturday's championship game at 1:30 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium.
Just as important, Palm Harbor gets two days off and must be beaten twice Saturday to miss out on a title in the double-elimination tournament.
"We've got to find something to do," Palm Harbor manager John Petika said.
"But it's nice to have. Our guys are a little tired and could use some rest."
Palm Harbor fell behind in the first inning. Oswaldo Martinez led off with a walk, stole second and came home on a double by Julio Otero. It was the last run Palm Harbor surrendered.
Starter Brian DeGonzague settled down from there, retiring 20 of the next 24 batters. Two batters singled, and two others were hit by a pitch.
"I think I was trying to be too pretty in the beginning," DeGonzague said.
"I just knew I had to throw strikes and let my defense do the rest."
The offense provided DeGonzague the runs he needed in unconventional ways.
Palm Harbor collected five hits and had five runners thrown out trying to advance.
Still, it scored by taking advantage of four walks, one hit batsman and two errors.
In the bottom of the first, Clay Perkett walked, advanced to second on a single by Chris Heil and to third on John Petika's walk. He scored on a sacrifice fly by DeGonzague to tie the game.
Palm Harbor broke the tie in the second. Marcello Mennone, who reached on an error, scored on a triple by Ryan Harvey. Harvey scored to put Palm Harbor ahead 3-1 when Perkett reached on an error.
Palm Harbor added some insurance runs in the fourth as Matt Jimenez and Perkett, who walked and singled, respectively, scored on a double by Heil.
"I'm still not happy with the offense," Petika said.
"We haven't played our best game yet."
While Palm Harbor gets some much-needed rest, it also must battle against being too relaxed.
After all, Pinellas Park was in the same situation at last year's World Series, beating the Latin American representative in the semifinals only to lose to it twice on the final day.
"Thanks for reminding me about (Pinellas Park)," Petika said.
"That's one more thing I have to worry about."