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Pool Paradise Stays Perfect

DEFENSE SPARKLES IN DIXIE MAJORS WIN OVER ROTARY

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Pool Paradise baserunner Andrew Starkey is tagged out by Rotary third baseman Nick Staffieri during the second inning if Monday Night’s Dixie Majors game at Max Long Complex.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: May 6, 2008

DIXIE MAJORS SCORES
Pool Paradise 5, Rotary 2
Lions 10, Highlands Today 8

SEBRING — Connor Cook had three hits and scored two runs and the Pool Paradise defense came up with several gems during a 5-2 victory over Rotary in Dixie Majors (ages 11-12) baseball action on Monday night at Max Long Complex.

The win kept Pool Paradise undefeated at 8-0 and in sole possession of first place in the six-team league.

"We've had strong infield play and real good pitching all season," said Pool Paradise coach Dean Frazier. "We've also been swinging the bats pretty well.

"Our defense keeps the ball in the infield, makes the routine plays and came up big tonight a couple of times to save a bunch of runs and that was the difference in the game."

Rotary, which dropped to 6-2 and is in second place, took the lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Joey Staffieri led off with a single to left field, stole second base, moved to third base on a fielder's choice and scampered home on a wild pitch by Pool Paradise left-hander Jonathan Struck for a 1-0 lead.

Pool Paradise answered in the top of the third inning as Cook singled to right field and took second base when the ball was muffed.

Alex Forde had a one-out infield single and Garrett Ross's ground ball was thrown away allowing Cook to score and Forde to advance to third base.
Forde then scored on the front end of a double steal for a 2-1 lead.

Rotary had runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings, but Forde, who struck out three in his two innings of work, let his defense go to work behind him to escape the jams unscathed.

Pool Paradise, which banged out eight hits, added to its lead in the fourth inning when Jimmy Peck walked and Andrew Starkey reached on the third Rotary error of the game.
Cook lined a single to left field to score Peck and Starkey moved to second base.

A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position and Forde followed with a ground-rule double to right-center field to plate Starkey and Cook for a 5-1 lead.

Rotary, which had three hits, managed to score a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Joey Staffieri singled in Alex Gomez to trim its deficit to 5-2.

DeRoss, who pitched the final two innings to earn the save, allowed a baserunner in the final inning, but the hard-throwing right-hander induced a pop-up to end the game to keep Pool Paradise unbeaten.

"We've got a good group of kids and parents from top to bottom," said Frazier. "We have eight returners from last year's squad and this team has an excellent attitude.
"I'm proud of all of them and we're having a lot of fun."

In other Dixie Majors play on Monday night, Lions outslugged Highlands Today by a score of 10-8.

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