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Frightful Fifth Dooms LP

Devils Score Seven In Fifth To Steal 11-8 Victory

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Lake Placid’s Chevontray Wilson checks back to see if Avon Park’s Heath Barnes’ tag missed him late in the game against the Red Devils at Head Field on Thursday.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: February 22, 2008

AVON PARK — There's something about the fifth inning that doesn't agree with the Lake Placid baseball team.

"We just can't seem to get past the fifth or sixth innings without going brain-dead," said LP head coach Dan Coomes. "Our pitchers threw the ball right down the middle and our fielders were dropping fly balls.

"It's not just one thing, but a combination of things that causes us to give up the big inning every time."

Lake Placid has surrendered leads in the fifth inning twice this season and gave up a ton of runs in that fateful frame to the likes of Sebring, Auburndale and Lake Region during last week's Bill Jarrett Early Bird Tournament.

The big inning in question for Avon Park came with the Green Dragons ahead by two and starter Carlos Sosa looking strong on the mound.

"I was nervous in the first few innings," Sosa said. "But once we got the lead, I was able to settle down and pitch my game."

That is until Avon Park exploded for seven runs on six hits and two walks compounded with a pair of costly fielding errors in the fifth, which led to an 11-8 Red Devil victory at Head Field on Thursday.

A double into right by Buddy Duke and a single up the middle by Dillan Runner scored the opening run and ignited the rally as Avon Park batted around the lineup in the inning.

With runners on first and second, Shevas Hicks crushed a double into center that plated Runner and allowed Terrill Conner to score all the way from first. A costly fielding error by the Green Dragons allowed Hicks to score and a double by catcher Logan Hunter plated another run.

The Red Devils would add another pair of runs and sent 12 batters to plate before the inning was over with Avon Park up 11-6.

Coomes just shook his head and tried to smile after the inning with the knowledge that they had come so close.

"It's hard to put my finger on just one thing," Coomes said. "It's routine things they're not doing.
"When you're in high school, games are not won. They're lost and we lost this game."

Lake Placid didn't go down without a fight.

Down five runs in the top of the seventh, Avon Park's Buddy Duke — who'd been stellar in two previous innings in relief — gave up a trio of walks to Tyler Wherry, catcher Logan Hunter and Logan Campbell. Lake Placid's Perry Mason hit a single down the left field line that scored two runs and gave the Green Dragons some hope.

But Duke calmed down to notch a strike out to end the game.

"I think Buddy pitched lights-out for two innings," said AP head coach Mort Jackson. "I think he let his guard down and they took advantage of that in the last inning, but he recovered well."

Duke was a little bit more critical of his performance on the mound against the Green Dragons.

"I was hitting my spots early and was able to get my pitches over the plate," Duke said. "I just got nervous in the seventh and lost my focus. I struggled to regain my composure but was able to get out of the inning and get the win."

The Red Devil win spoiled the Green Dragon's first home run of the season — a towering 320-foot grand slam by freshman Colby Delaney in the third that gave Lake Placid a 4-2 lead.

"He threw me one high and outside and I was able to catch up to it," Delaney said. "I was just hoping to come into the game and make contact and get some hits. You never come in focused on hitting a home run, but I got a hold of one."

Delaney has shown a maturity beyond his years and has continued to improve with each game for the Green Dragons.

"[Colby] is an impact player," Coomes said. "He is strong and has the ability to drive the ball deep. We've been working with him so maybe [this home run] can be a regular occurrence."

Avon Park's Roberto Colon and Conner scored on a pair of Lake Placid fielding errors to put the Red Devils up 2-0 after two innings.

The Devils traveled to Hardee on Friday night, while the Green Dragons welcome Sebring on Monday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

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