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Highlands Today

Panthers Start Fall Season With Sweep

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Highlands Today staff report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2008

Updated:

AVON PARK - The major league baseball season may be starting to wind down, but the fall season has just begun for the South Florida Community College team.

The Panthers kicked off their fall exhibition season by sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday by scores of 4-1, 3-2.

"It's just scrimmage games, but it was a good start to what will be a long fall of preparation," said veteran South Florida coach Rick Hitt. "We pitched it pretty well, threw strikes all day and gave up a few hits and didn't walk that many.

"Our hitters were aggressive, which is what we're looking for, and even though we didn't have that many hits, we made them count."

South Florida, which battled a slew of injuries last season, still managed to finish in the top four of its conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

With a bunch of new faces on the Panthers roster, these scrimmage games give Coach Hitt and his coaching staff a chance to evaluate the players under game conditions.

"We've been working hard for two weeks and it was good a good day for us," the Panthers skipper said. "Our pitchers velocity was down, but that's to be expected with what we're putting them through physically right now."

South Florida has a number of local players on its roster, and with a few key additions, has the potential to make the state playoffs in 2009.

Additionally, Joel Torres, who played center field for the Panthers last year, won't be back after signing a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians.

"It was understood that Joel would turn pro if he got drafted," said Hitt. "He suffered a thigh injury in mid-season and didn't get drafted, but the Indians liked him and he signed with them

"He's a good kid and we wish him the best."

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