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'That's Why They're All-Stars'

FACA ALL-STAR BASEBALL CLASSIC

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

North Marion’s Cade Smith (17) readies to receive the ball while Flanagan’s Rolando Gomex dives into second base on Friday during the first inning of the North vs. South game during the FACA All-Star Baseball Classic at Firemen’s Field.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: May 24, 2008

SEBRING — Tampa-Sickles' Kenny Wilson raced in from deep center field, hot on the trail of a shallow fly ball off the bat of Winter Haven's Markus Brisker. Just before the extra-base hit met the ground, Wilson made a late dive and a crowd-pleasing snag.

As the East team made its way from the dugout to the outfield, Wesley Freeman of Winter Haven-All Saints had some words of consolation for Brisker and the rest of his teammates.

"That's why we're all-stars, boys," smiled the All-Saints senior.

Wilson made the catch, but it was West squad's pitching that caught up to the East: The West All-Stars defeated the East squad 5-1 in the late game of the 30th annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Baseball Classic at Firemen's Field on Friday.

With the score tied at one heading into the eighth, Tampa-King's Sean Buckley singled down the left field line to score Wes Soto of Sarasota-Riverview to break the stalemate. Buckley would add a carbon copy in his next at-bat to score Ryan McChesney of Ft. Myers-Riverdale in the 10th.

Sarasota's Casey Kelly — another top prospect — went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks and scored a run, while Corey Thomas of Tampa-Middleton scored in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Joe Rapp of Sarasota as the West team put the game out of reach.

Sebring's Adam Simmons and Tony Vazquez were late replacements in the game, as Simmons took over at third in the sixth and immediately had action at the hot corner. Wilson tagged up to advance to third on a fly ball to center and Simmons had to leap to get the throw that allowed Wilson to slide in safely.

Simmons went 0-2 at the plate and Vazquez struck out in his only at-bat in the eighth inning.

Vazquez wasn't upset at his performance at the plate, using it, instead, as a learning experience.

"It's hard to sit on the bench for eight innings and be expected to come in and hit," Vazquez said. "I've never done that in my life. Now I got a taste of what a pinch hitter has to go through. You have to be able to find your rhythm in an instant."

Simmons was hoping for a chance on the mound, but instead had a front-row seat to see the top pitching prospects in the state show their stuff.

"I always watch and see what a pitcher's tendencies are in certain situations," Simmons said. "It's hard to pick up too much when they're only pitching two innings, but you get a sense of how they handle themselves."

North 6, South 3

Morgan McKinney of Gainesville-Buchholz and Cameron Graves of Crawfordville-Wakulla hit back-to-back home runs — McKinney's a two-run shot — to ignite a four-run, fifth-inning and hand the South All-Stars a 6-3 victory over the North in the opening game of the FACA All-Star Baseball Classic at Firemen's Field.

American Heritage's top prospect Eric Hosmer smacked an RBI double in his first at-bat and showed his skills on the mound in the final two innings, but it wasn't enough as the North squad defeated the South All-Stars 6-3 in the opening game of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Baseball Classic at Firemen's Field on Friday.

In a game full of defensive gems, perhaps the shiniest was made by Garrett Wittels of Miami-Krop, who scooped up a hard-hit grounder by Belleview's Frank DeJiulio from his knees with his backhand and threw for the out to the delight of the fans.

McKinney finished 3 for 3 and with four RBI, but all eyes were on Hosmer, and the 6-foot-5 senior didn't disappoint: He made plays in the field defensively and struck out four on the mound when he took over the final two innings in relief.

"This was just great to come out and play in this event," Hosmer said. "Adrian [Nieto], Joe [Belviso] and Juan [Carlos Sulbaran] and myself have all been playing baseball together since we were 10 years old. This was a no-brainer after we won the state title to come here and play the game together one last time before we go our separate ways."

Hosmer's fastball was clocked between 92 and 94 by the radar guns of the Major League scouts, but his biggest duel was against Niceville hurler Bret DeVall, which was extended with foul ball after foul ball. But in the end DeVall's change-up got the better of Hosmer in the fourth.

For results of Saturday's games, including the championshi final, see MONDAY'S Highlands Today.

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