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Titans Slip Past Panthers In Extra Innings

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

SFCC's Matt Devlin of Avon Park rounds first base on Friday during the Panthers' season opener.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: January 27, 2008

AVON PARK — When South Florida Community College sophomore pitcher Jeff Bloomer went down last season with an injured shoulder, he was forced away from the game he loves.

"It was extremely hard being away," Bloomer said. "I didn't play in any fall exhibition games and I'm finally healthy enough to get back out there."

Bloomer showed that he was worth the wait — he hurled 6 2/3 innings and surrendered no runs and just two hits against the defending Suncoast Conference champions St. Petersburg College.

But the Titans were able to piece together some timely hits and catcher James Blackburn's single into right field scored the winning run to beat the Panthers 7-6 in 12 innings on Friday, spoiling a five-run comeback for the Panthers on opening day at Panther Field.

"This is the third-ranked team in the state," said SFCC head coach Rick Hitt. "They showed why the deserve that ranking tonight. We battled back from five runs down, but it was a hole we created ourselves by some fielding errors."

Indeed, miscues plagued the Panthers in the early going.

St. Pete loaded the bases in the third on a pair of singles and a walk before a fielding error by first baseman Brandon Decker allowed two runs to score on an error by third baseman Steve Levine, who was hobbled on the play and had to leave the game, igniting a four-run fifth inning to put the Panthers down 6-1.

With two outs in the fifth, Bloomer was called upon to stop the bleeding, forcing a pair of fly outs to end the inning.

Bloomer instilled confidence on the mound, which was something his teammates rallied around.

"We had all our pitchers on pitch counts tonight, but Bloomer was managing his pitches well," Hitt said. "He had good command and he helped us get right back in he game."

After scoring their first two runs on a pair of Titan errors, the Panthers clawed their way back one run at a time.

A Titan error in the seventh allowed Matt Devlin to reach second and Austin Gaines' hard shot into left-center put another run on the board for the Panthers. Gaines then scored on yet another error by the visitors to cut the lead to two.

With two on and two out, former Blue Streak J.T. Tomlinson tied the game with a two-run single — his first hit as a member of the Panthers — scoring Decker and Ryan Thorlton from second and third.

"Coach just said for me to go for it," Tomlinson said. "I got a pitch early in the count to hit and made the most of it. That gave me a boost of confidence and gave us a chance to win.

"I think we earned some respect tonight."

Bloomer made sure that the Panthers had a chance to win, not allowing any Titan runner past first base while on the mound.

The Panther sophomore used his off-speed pitches to his advantage in keeping St. Pete's power hitters off balance, while working the corners.

"I don't have the velocity I had before I got injured," Bloomer said. "Tonight, I was able to hit my spots and get us back in the game. My teammates were behind me and I didn't want to let them down."

The next five innings were a virtual stalemate, as both teams accounted for just two hits until the game-deciding 12th inning.

But no matter the score, the night belonged to Bloomer, who was all smiles while on the mound, getting back to doing what he waited a whole season to do.

"I was hoping I didn't have to red-shirt this season," Bloomer said. "It was a big night."

The Panthers were scheduled to play Lake Sumter on Saturday afternoon. Results were not available at press time. The next SFCC home game is Monday against Seminole at 5 p.m.

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