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Eyes On The Prize

WINNERS SINCE DIXIE BALL, STREAKS HAVE BIG DREAMS AS STATE FINAL FOUR LOOMS

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Sebring’s Chad Cowan practices bunts during batting practice on Wednesday at Firemen’s Field.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: May 8, 2008

Updated: 05/08/2008 04:58 pm

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CLASS 4A REGIONAL FINAL
Sebring vs. Riverdale
Friday: Game 1 at 4 p.m., Game 2 at 7 p.m.
Saturday: Game 3 (if necessary) at 1 p.m.
All games at Riverdale High School, Fort Myers

SEBRING — Someone forgot to tell the Sebring baseball team that they weren't supposed to be here.
The Streaks weren't supposed to put up much of a fight come district tournament time, yet they were one of two left standing.

And they weren't supposed to survive against No. 7-ranked Lake Wales, but they won that battle of attrition.

And hardly anyone outside of Highlands County gave the Streaks a chance against Bartow, who walloped District 10 champion Braden River by six runs.

Yet here the Blue Streaks are — just two wins away from a return trip to the state final four.
"Everyone has been underestimating us all season after losing so many players from last year's team," said Sebring pitcher Adam Simmons. "We knew we had a lineup that can match-up with anyone's. We just have to go out and play our game."

District 11 champion Riverdale (Fort Myers), a team that boasts a potent one-two punch on the mound, is now the one thing standing in the Blue Streaks' way.

Sebring travels to face the Raiders in the Class 4A regional finals with a doubleheader Friday to kick off a best two-out-of-three series.

The loss of names like Chaz Abeln, Charlie Peck, Corey Ritter and J.T. Tomlinson hasn't slowed down the Streaks one bit. Instead, a new group, led by the likes of Simmons, Cody Higgins, Tony Vazquez, Mike Jones and Steven Fortner have stepped up.

And it's hardly a surprise: They've all been playing together since their days in Dixie youth baseball, where a need for championships festered.

"We've all been winning together since we were in Dixie," Jones said. "We won two state championships at the Dixie level, so we have a history of winning. It's time to prove it at the ultimate high school level."

Riverdale (23-6) boasts a one-two punch on the mound in Nathan Gahafer and Nick Stewart, both quality pitchers that don't give up many hits.

But Sebring head coach Hoppy Rewis feels that the pitching edge lies with his Streaks, who have three quality pitchers in Simmons, Fortner and Higgins.

"I think we're better off pitching-wise than [Riverdale]," Rewis said. "But the advantage of having a third pitcher isn't going to make much difference unless you get to that third game.

"I expect a pitching duel at least for the first game. We just have to win one of two on Friday at least to give us a chance on Saturday."

If the Streaks have been anything over the last half-decade, it's consistent. Sebring (22-7) has won 20 or more games six straight years and have been to the regional finals three of the last four years.

Today's regional final will mark the furthest the Raiders have ever advanced in baseball's postseason.
The key to success for the Streaks will come down to defense and pitching — an almost copycat performance against Bartow would suffice — though a little luck on their side wouldn't hurt.

"We've been working on our hitting and defense to prepare," Rewis said. "But when you get into a game, there are so many different scenarios that might play out that you haven't even thought of. We just have to play smart and error-free, and I think we'll be there at the end."

Simmons is set to take the mound in the opening game and expects to be business-as-usual on the mound with his long-time catcher Jones helping to keep the Riverdale hitters off-balance.

"Mike and I have been playing baseball together all our lives," Simmons said. "We have a real good connection. He knows all my pitches and has a way of calming me down when I get frustrated."

Jones feels that over the course of the season, opposing teams have brought their best games in the hopes of beating the Streaks because of what they accomplished last season.

"We got every team's best game night in and night out," said the Sebring catcher. "A lot of people believed we couldn't do what we're doing now, and that we're in a position to go back to the state final four. But I look back at last year's team and am proud of what we were able to do, but it left a bad taste in my mouth at how it ended.
"We really have some unfinished business."

CAN'T MAKE IT TO FORT MYERS? We've got you covered.
Visit highlandstoday.com/sports on Friday for inning-by-inning updates from the regional finals — from the first pitch of Game 1 to the last out of Game 2.

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