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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: February 13, 2008

Red Devils Come Back For Victory

AVON PARK –– Brearana Tate scored the tying run and drove in senior Heather Barnes for the winning run in the last at-bat as the Avon Park softball team came from behind for a 3-2 victory over Lake Region on Monday.

After Barnes walked and stole second, Tate cracked a shot that got through the infield defense of Lake Region that gave the Red Devils a much-needed win after losing their first game to George Jenkins last Friday.

"[Lake Region's] bats were better than ours tonight," Barnes said. "But we found a way to grind out the win.

"This feels really good because it's the first time we've ever beaten them."

The win improves Avon Park to 5-1 on the season and prepares the Red Devils for their Class 4A-District 10 showdown with Palmetto on Friday.

Avon Park had set a torrid offensive pace to start the season, scoring 57 runs in four games, but Barnes said that those numbers are misleading.

"That's what happens when you start the season against slow pitching," the AP senior said. "It actually has hurt us because our bats went cold when we faced quality pitching.

"It'll take a few games to get our timing back, but we'll be all right."

BOYS TENNIS: Lake Placid 4, Hardee 3

WAUCHULA –– Martin Oseguera defeated Jake Crews 6-3, 6-2 in a hard-fought match, as the Lake Placid Green Dragons came away victorious over Hardee in the season opener for both teams on Monday.

No. 4 seed Shane Stayer dispatched Dylan Justin 6-1, 6-2 and Michael Trujillo, playing in the No. 5 seed, overcame a tough first set to defeat Wade Aubray 6-4, 6-0.

"I'm very pleased with our play," said LP head coach Dennis Berrard. "This is the first time I've beaten Hardee so it feels good.

"We've got a young team and we're taking out lumps now, but we're set for the next couple of years."

No. 2 seed Andy Olivares lost to Joe Porter 2-6, 1-6 and elite swimmer Michael Wilkes, in his first year playing tennis competitively, lost to the 'Cats Mike Torres in a tiebreaker 1-6, 6-6 (0-6).

In doubles action, Oseguera and Olivares were narrowly beat by the team of Crews and Porter 8-6, while Wilkes and Stayer downed Trujillo and Aubray 8-1 for the team victory.

GIRLS TENNIS: Hardee 4, Lake Placid 3

WAUCHULA –– Sydney Stewart and Shayna Reasbeck showed that experience is what it takes to succeed, as both won in impressive fashion in the season opener against Hardee on Monday.

Stewart, the Green Dragons No. 1 seed, defeated Kaitlin Justice 6-2, 6-1, showing patience and confidence on the court, while Reasbeck had a tougher time with Shelby Durrance before winning 6-1, 7-5.

"Shayna was very consistent today and her serves were on amazing," said LP first-year head coach Jennifer Moore. "Sydney just kept a steady and level head and was extremely patient out there."

In other singles results, No. 3 seed Nahla AbuAous lost to Natally Green 1-6, 1-6, No. 4 seed Ana Heretia was beaten by Clara Durrance and Michele Barajas was outsted by Amanda Porter 1-6, 0-6.

In doubles action, Stewart and Reasbeck beat the team of Justice and Green 8-2, while AbuAous and Heretia lost to Durrance and Porter 1-8 in and eight-game pro-set match.

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