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Armed And Dangerous

DIXIE AAA DISTRICT 8 TOURNAMENT

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Lake Placid’s Tyler Farmer drove in the tying run and pitched two scoreless innings on Friday against Okeechobee National during the Dixie AAA (ages 9-10) District 8 tournament at Max Long Recreational Complex.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: June 15, 2008

SEBRING — Word around Max Long Recreational Complex on Friday was that this year's Okeechobee National team could be the strongest squad they've had in years.

Somebody forgot to tell Tyler Farmer.

The Lake Placid hurler crushed a triple into right field to score the tying run and pitched two scoreless innings for a 4-2 LP victory over Okeechobee National during the opening round of the Dixie AAA (ages 9-10) District 8 tournament.

With the upset win, Lake Placid slid into the winners' bracket of the six-team, double-elimination tournament.

Farmer's speed was nearly enough to carry him to an inside-the-park home run, but the fleet-footed 10-year old was caught in a rundown rounding third, which he used as fuel against Okeechobee National in the final inning.

"I was really upset I got out trying for home," Farmer said. "I just told myself that I had to get them out with my pitching."

The change-up was Farmer's secret weapon, and the pitch sent Okeechobee to the dugout in order in the fifth to keep the score knotted at two.

In the sixth, Angel Ojeda drew a walk and stole second before coming home on a base hit by Alyssa Priest for the go-ahead run. Priest would score an insurance run on an infield hit by William Ebersole for the two-run advantage to set up Farmer for the final frame.

The LP reliever hit a speed bump in the form of runners on second and third with two outs, but Farmer breathed deep and forced a pop-up to infield for the final out.

LP head coach Mike Warner was in awe of his players and their guts to rally late in the game and pull out a win against a solid ball club like Okeechobee.

"This was a tough battle that came down to the final at-bat before you could put this game to bed," Warner said. "I'm proud of the kids for staying together as a team, and I think we're riding a wave of confidence right now."

When asked about Farmer's performance to seal the win, Warner had all the confidence that the young pitcher would get the job done.

"[Tyler] was in a zone in that fifth inning, and I think the team really fed off his adrenaline rush after striking out the side," Warner said. "We were really able to kick our game up a notch after that."

Lake Placid grabbed an early 1-0 lead when Diego Mireles scored on a passed ball in the second, where LP loaded the bases but came up with only one run and a runner thrown out at the plate.

Okeechobee responded by scoring two runs on three hits in the home half of the second and also had a player thrown out at the plate.

Farmer tied the game with a shot into right field that scored Daniel Simmons from first in the fifth before taking the mound.

Okeechobee American 13, Avon Park 1

SEBRING — Okeechobee American scored nine runs in the first inning on four hits and cruised to a 13-1, four inning, mercy-rule victory over Avon Park in the opening round of the Dixie AAA (ages 9-10) District 8 tournament at Max Long Recreational Complex on Friday.

Okeechobee found every hole in Avon Park's defense, and they peppered the outfield with hits while errors mounted for AP, which led to four runs for the visitors in the first inning alone.

"I'm proud that we kept our heads up, but the way we played tonight was totally different than the way we've been practicing," said AP head coach Heath Townsend. "I think the kids were a little nervous.

"We were throwing strikes, but our defense didn't make the plays when we needed them."

Avon Park managed just two hits and six base runners for the game, scoring their lone run in the fourth when Kyle Gates came home on Brevin Gunn's hard-hit grounder that was bobbled by the Okeechobee infield.

Townsend wasn't down on the kids after the game, telling them they can either lie down and quit or come out and beat somebody.

"This is still a young team and there isn't such a thing as bad experience in baseball," Townsend said. "We have to chalk this game up to experience and come out swinging the next time."

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