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Thunder Roll Past Dragons

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Lake Placid catcher Curt Slade holds on to the ball to get Lake Region’s Steve Fox out at the plate during the Early Bird Tournament on Wednesday at Head Field.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: February 15, 2008

AVON PARK –– The Lake Placid baseball team showed both sides of the two-headed monster against Lake Region on Wednesday.

Through the first four innings, the Green Dragons played solid, fundamental baseball, showing the possible potential that lies ahead this season.

The final three innings, however, were marred by costly errors and a rash of cold bats that saw the regression of that potential during Lake Region's 9-2 victory over Lake Placid in the Bill Jarrett Early Bird Tournament at Head Field.

Lake Placid head coach Dan Coomes said he admired his team's performance, and he understands they need to play the good teams if they're to improve this season.

"You're never going to know what kind of team you have unless you play quality teams," Coomes said. "Overall, I think we've shown that we can hold our own."

The Green Dragons put on a gutsy display for the first 4 1/2 innings with a solid performance on the mound by senior Adam Delgado, who held the high-powered Thunder offense to four hits in that time span.

But games are seven innings long and Lake Region's bats didn't stay dormant, busting out with a five-run fifth.

Lake Placid committed three costly errors in that inning that led to three runs for Lake Region, while the Thunder –– who batted around the lineup –– capitalized on the mistakes and powered past the Dragons with four hits and three walks.

With the Green Dragons leading 2-1, Lance Boggio doubled off the left field wall and came home on a Lake Placid outfield error to tie the game. Devin Bujnovsky then drove in Drew Burr from second with a single up the middle to take the lead.

Another fielding error by Lake Placid and a balk combined with Brett Harrison's RBI single into right field gave the Thunder a commanding 6-2 lead.

Coomes wasn't complimentary about his team's errors in the field and knows that improvement on defense is the next step in the maturation process for the Green Dragons.

"You can't make mistakes like those against a team of this caliber," Coomes said. "That's all a team like that needs to win. You don't mind losing to a better team, but you just don't want to give them runs in the process."

Lake Region pitcher Josh Hart held the Green Dragons in check by showing off a great pick-off throw to first that led to four outs.

Down 1-0 in the top of the fifth, Lake Placid pieced together a solid inning behind the plate and took advantage of a sub-par inning from Hart to take the lead.

The Green Dragons loaded the bases on a single into left by Colby Delaney and a pair of walks by Brad Stayton and Zack Heckman to put pressure on Hart. David Samperi plated Delaney with a sacrifice fly to center and Logan Smith, who was pinch running for Stayton, trotted home after Hart was called for a balk for a 2-1 lead.

But after giving up his third walk of the inning, Hart caught Andrew Morrison looking with an inside fastball to end the threat.

"I thought we had our best at-bats of the season so far in that fifth inning," Coomes said. "We were patient at the plate and saw the ball well. Now we just need to put a few more innings together like that and we'll have a good shot at winning."

Senior shortstop Carlos Sosa was critical of his teams defensive presence late in the game, knowing full well the work that needs to be done.

"We just have to make the plays and learn how to play with a lead," Sosa said. "We've got to do a better job when we get on base and cut down on the silly mistakes."

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