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OFFENSIVE ERROR-UPTION

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Sebring’s Gus Williams slides in with a triple as DeSoto’s Manuel Perez blocks the throw during the second inning of Friday night’s Class 4A-District 10 game at Firemen’s Field.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: February 23, 2008

SEBRING — Taking advantage of your opponents' mistakes is the mark of a winning team.

Sebring used a pair of DeSoto errors to turn a tight game into a rout with a 10-run second inning, and senior center fielder Kyle Long had four RBI to lead the Blue Streaks to a 13-1 victory over DeSoto in a Class 4A-District 10 contest on Friday night at Firemen's Field.

Senior Adam Simmons picked up the win by allowing just one hit to go with six strikeouts in five innings in a game that was called because of the 10-run mercy rule.

"I used my curveball to set up my fastball," said the Blue Streak right-hander. "I settled down after the first inning and once we got the lead, I just threw strikes.

"We've got a lot of talent on this team. Our defense is solid, we're starting to swing the bats and we're going to keep working hard to improve."

The win improved Sebring to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in district, while the loss dropped the Bulldogs to 2-2, 1-1.

"We're a young team and we've got to learn to overcome adversity," said DeSoto coach Whit Cornell. "Sometimes things don't go your way, but we're going to keep working to get better."

The Bulldogs took the lead in their first at-bat.

Center fielder Lyle Steyer lined a one-out single, stole second base, moved to third base on a groundout and raced home on a wild pitch by Simmons to give DeSoto a quick 1-0 lead.

"That's our game," Cornell said. "Get on base and create some problems for the other team with our speed and baserunning — but we couldn't do that once we fell behind."

Bulldog junior right-hander Jake Thornton breezed through the Blue Streak batting order in the bottom of the inning, but he wasn't able to get out of the second inning.

Simmons and first baseman Tony Vazquez reached on errors to start the uprising and third baseman Josh Chavis struck out, but reached first base when the ball got past Bulldog catcher Robert Fussell.

Sheldon Williams knocked in a run with an infield single, Cody Higgins walked and Cory Watt roped an RBI single.

That brought up Long, — who's been on a tear at the plate — and the left-handed power hitter lined a bases-loaded double to right-center field.

"I've been working hard on my swing and I just wanted to put the ball in play," Long said. "Most of the guys on this team have been playing together for years and we all are working hard to compete for another district title."

Simmons, up for the second time in the inning, kept the rally going with an RBI double, Vazquez walked and Gus Williams stroked a triple into right-center field.

That knocked Thornton out of the game and right-hander Lester Hornbake came on in relief.

Another run scored on a DeSoto infield error to give the Blue Streaks a commanding 10-1 lead.

Sebring added a pair of runs in the third inning, as Long contributed an RBI sacrifice fly, and another tally in the bottom of the fourth.

That was more than enough for Simmons, who retired the last seven DeSoto hitters as the Blue Streaks cruised to the easy district win.

"We swung the bats well and got a lot of help from DeSoto tonight," said veteran Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis. "It was good to see some of our kids that have been struggling at the plate break out and get some hits. Adam wasn't as sharp as he's been, but he got the job done. He's a kid that has worked really hard in the weight room to get stronger and did what he had to do to improve.

"The season is a marathon, and we're just looking to get better each time we step on the field."

Sebring is back on the diamond with an away game at Lake Placid at 7 p.m. on Monday.

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