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Highlands Today

Lake Placid Keeps Rolling In Dixie Tourney

CARR STRIKES OUT 10 AS LAKE PLACID ADVANCES

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Lake Placid's Scot Colley slides into home in the fifth inning of Monday night's win over West Volusia National in the Dixie Youth Majors "O" Zone state tournament in Lakeland.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: July 8, 2008

EAST LAKELAND - Underestimated and under the radar is exactly where Lake Placid is flourishing in the Dixie Youth Majors "O" Zone (ages 11-12) state tournament and head coach Ed Stanley isn't taking the recent success for granted.

"I'm really happy for these kids and the community," Stanley said. "It isn't everyday that a small town like Lake Placid assembles a team like we've got now.
"This is the best hitting team I've ever seen at this age level."

Lake Placid's bats were on a tear again on Monday night, as they pounded out 10 hits, including a 215-foot home run by Heath Harris in the sixth inning to help LP pull away from the West Volusia Nationals for a 10-4 win.

"This was a total team effort tonight," Stanley said. "This was an incredible game for a bunch of free spirits like we have on this team. They came together and did what they had to do to win.

"Lake Placid doesn't get that many chances and we're going to go as far as we can in this tournament. We've got nothing to lose."

With the win, Lake Placid advanced to play an elimination game against Marianna on Tuesday night.
Results were not available at press time. Check Thursday's Highlands Today for complete tournament coverage.

Tyler Carr showed plenty of heart on the mound, as he nearly pitched a complete game — he didn't pitch to the first two batter's of the game — giving up just two earned runs, five hits and striking out a tournament-best 10 batters to give LP the consistency they were looking for from their pitchers.

"I've got to tip my hat to Tyler and the performance he put on tonight," Stanley said. "He ran out of gas in the fifth inning and we were thinking of pulling him, but he convinced us that he could finish the job. He dug deep in his tank and stepped it up for us to close it out.
"That's why he's such a special player."

Carr looked to be in trouble in the fifth, as West Volusia scored two runs on three hits and a walk, but the young hurler forced a fly-out to get out of the jam to hold on to a three-run lead heading into the final inning.

"I was having a problem with the small strike zone for most of the game," Carr said. "I almost had to throw it down the middle of the plate to get a strike called. I didn't feel like I was out of gas in the fifth, but I was feeling some fatigue in my throwing arm.
"I knew I could finish the game and get the win for my team."

With the coaches pleading for a few insurance runs, Harris walked up to the plate with orders to get on base.
He did them one better by sending a 2-1 pitch over the center-field fence for a solo home run to kick off the inning.

LP assistant coach Don Cram joked with his first baseman after the celebration at home plate.
"I told him that I needed him on base and now he messed my whole plan up," Cram laughed. "I guess we'll take the run."

The runs didn't stop with just one in the final frame.
Justin LaRosa walked and stole a pair of bases, while Cody Ming smacked a single into left to score LaRosa.

Another walk to Scott Colley and a double-steal put runners on second and third.
Alex Miller hit a grounder to shortstop and West Volusia tried to get the runner out at the plate, but Ming slid under the tag for another run and LP walked away from the inning with a cozy six-run advantage.

Carr, looking very tired on the mound, was able to muster enough strength to strike out the first two batters and forced a ground-out to get the win.

"My curveball was working really good today," Carr said. "This win really gives us a lot of confidence. I think we were all a little flustered in the opening game [against West Volusia American] and knew we could play better.
"We showed today that we can play with anyone, but it also tells us that the farther we go the harder the teams are going to be."

Down 1-0 heading into the third, Lake Placid found their offensive rhythm with LaRosa leading off with a single into center, scoring moments later on Colley's single into center field.

After Cole Russel's single and a balk by West Volusia put runners on second and third, Justin Mason ripped a two-run single into right to give LP a 3-1 lead.

Mason would leave after the at-bat with a foot injury sustained earlier in the tournament.
West Volusia cut the lead to just a single run in the fourth, scoring on a passed ball, but LP broke the game open with a five-run fifth that gave them a 7-2 advantage.

LP loaded the bases on back-to-back walks to Laine Daum and LaRosa and Ming was hit by a pitch.
Colley plated two runs with a sharp single into right, with LaRosa sliding under the tag to beat out the relay throw home. Ming came home on a grounder by Carr. Colley stole third and then raced home after the pick-off throw went into left field for the five-run lead.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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