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Pool Paradise Rules

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Pool Paradise players and coaches celebrate after winning the Dixie Majors (ages 10-12) city tournament on Saturday night at Max Long Recreational Complex.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: June 2, 2008

SEBRING — By slowing down his windup, Pool Paradise pitcher Jonathon Struck speeded up his pitches.

The slender left-hander worked with Pool Paradise coach Jim Peck on his delivery while warming up, and then went out and limited a potent Rotary offense to one hit, while striking out eight, as Pool Paradise rolled to an 8-1 win in the championship game of the Dixie Majors (ages 10-12) city tournament on Saturday at Max Long Recreational Complex.

"Coach Peck told me to slow down my windup and then follow through and finish my delivery," said Struck. "My fastball was working and I was able to throw strikes.

"This is great and means we're one of the best teams."

Pool Paradise, which won the regular season and finished with an impressive 16-1 record, went undefeated in the double-elimination tournament, and showed why they were the No. 1 seed.

"Facing Lions pitcher Santos Bencomo on Friday night got us prepared for this game," said Pool Paradise coach Dean Frazier of the 11-1 win. "That got our confidence going because he's very good and we knew if we could hit him, we were ready. "I'm proud of all the kids because we played steady all year, but they really stepped it up in the tournament."

Pool Paradise got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning.

Third baseman Connor Cook led off with a single off of Rotary left-hander Joey Staffieri, stole second and third and raced home on a wild pitch.

Alex Forde reached first base on a one-out infield single, stole second and third base, and scampered home after eluding a rundown for a 2-0 lead.

Pool Paradise added to its lead in the third inning.

Garrett DeRoss led off with an infield single, stole second and scored on a Rotary error on a ground ball by Forde.

Forde then stole second and raced home on double to left-center field by Jimmy Peck.

Peck stole second base and scored on a single to left field by Tyler Joseph.

Joseph advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on an error for a commanding 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Struck, who had a perfect game until Brandon Ferretti lined a one-out single to center field in the top of the fifth inning.

Ferretti broke up the shutout when he stole second and third and scored Rotary's run on a wild pitch by Struck.

"Jonathon's been a horse for me all year," said Coach Frazier. "He's been one of our steadiest pitchers and he did what he had to do, which is throw strikes."

Pool Paradise, which had seven hits, answered with a run in the bottom of the frame and DeRoss came in to pitch the last inning.

The hard-throwing right-hander struck out the first two Rotary batters and got the last hitter to ground out to clinch the city championship.

"We peaked at the right time," said Coach Frazier. "This team has great character and we had great leadership from the older boys like Forde, DeRoss and Struck.

"I couldn't ask for a better group of kids and parents and to be able to share this kind of experience with them means the world to me."

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