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Pool Paradise Pounds Lions

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Pool Paradise baserunner Alex Forde scores as Lions catcher J.C. Perez waits for the throw in the fourth inning of Friday night's Dixie Majors city tournament game at Max Long Complex.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: May 31, 2008

SEBRING — After watching Lions maul Highlands Today by 12 runs an elimination game on Friday night, Pool Paradise used a potent offense and stellar pitching to knock out the Lions 11-1 in the Dixie Majors city tournament at Max Long Complex.

The win put undefeated Pool Paradise, the No. 1 seed, into Saturday night's championship game against once-beaten Rotary, the No. 3 seed.

"We finally looked like the Pool Paradise team that I know," said Pool Paradise coach Dean Frazier. "We swung the bats against a very good pitcher and our guys threw the ball well.

"Our kids know that Rotary always gets up for us and it's going to take a solid effort to win the city championship."

Results from the game was not available at press time. For the complete coverage, including pictures and reaction, check out Monday's Highlands Today.

Pool Paradise took command in the top of the first inning.

Connor Cook led off with a double and Garrett DeRoss followed with an RBI double off of Lions right-hander Santos Bencomo.

DeRoss stole third and scored when Alex Forde's ground ball was misplayed, and Trey Frazier knocked in Forde with a double down the left-field line.

Frazier stole second and third base and raced home on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead.

"We came out and made a statement with four runs in the first inning off a good pitcher," said Dean Frazier. "That kind of put them on their heels a little bit and it pumped our kids up."

DeRoss, who reached on an infield error in the second inning, used his blazing speed to steal second and third base and raced home on a wild pitch by Bencomo for a 5-0 advantage.

Pool Paradise, which banged out 12 hits, added a run in the third inning when Frazier singled, stole second, moved to third base on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

Pool Paradise tacked on five runs in the top of the fourth with Forde and Jonathon Struck contributing RBI hits for an 11-0 lead.

Lions, which had two hits off of Struck and Forde, scored its run on a bases-loaded walk to Nick Strey, but Forde bore down to strike out the last batter to put Pool Paradise into the finals.

"Jonathon got us off to a good start and Alex came in and finished the job," said Frazier. "We've had a great season, but we've got one more game to win to make it special."

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