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Blue Streaks Make Short Work Of Tigers

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring second baseman Cody Higgins throws out a Clewiston runner on Thursday during the Blue Streaks' 10-0 victory over the Tigers at the Avon Park First Pitch Classic at Head Field.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: February 14, 2009

AVON PARK - It was only a preseason game, sure, but it's never too early for a lesson in putting an opponent away.

After Sebring turned a two-out, two-error rally into a seven-run lead heading into the fifth inning, senior Cody Higgins walked in the dugout and urged his teammates to finish off Clewiston in the opening game of the First Pitch Classic at Head Field.

"I came in and said, 'Hey guys, let's go home early tonight. We have another game tomorrow and we might as well try and get as much sleep as we can," said Higgins, who was 2-for-2 with two runs scored in Sebring's season-opening 10-0 mercy-rule win over the Tigers. "It was good. It felt good to come out and put 10 on a team."

Dustin Lang threw three solid innings to start the game for the Streaks, striking out four and allowing two hits while working nearly all his repertoire of pitches.

"I just tried to come in and throw strikes," said Lang, who also hit a single and scored a run. "I tired to get ahead and start the season good and go with it.

"I throw a fastball, a two-seam, a curve, a split-finger and a knuckleball. I threw everything but the knuckler tonight."

Sebring got on the board in the first inning when Gus Williams slammed a single up the middle to score Higgins from second and give the Streaks a 1-0 lead. Sebring had trouble catching up to Clewiston pitcher Isrando Marquez's fastball early, but they adjusted when reliever Mason Cole entered the game in the fourth.

After Cole got the first two Sebring batters out, a single by Lane, a walk and a hit batsman set up a bases-loaded situation for Evan Lewis, who knocked a shot into the right field corner that went off the Tiger outfielder's bill and careened into foul territory.

"He threw me a fastball and I hit it as hard as I could," said Lewis, who also had a run scored and a single in his first varsity game. "I'm just going with the flow. I expected to be sitting on the bench tonight."

After Lewis scored on a wild pitch three pitches later, Higgins followed a Riley McKenna walk with a line-drive single into right-center, scoring pinch-runner Sheldon Williams from second.

After a Kevin Welborn single, the Streaks put on a double steal, which scored Higgins and put the Streaks up 7-0 after four.

With Sebring's Josh Chavis (2IP, K, H) firmly in control on the mound, Higgins riled up his teammates as they attempted to put the game away in the fifth.

"I try to be a spark plug for the team," he said. "I try to get on base and make things happen with my legs, and we have a couple of guys behind us who can swing it."

The Streaks reached on an error and got another runner aboard on a fielder's choice, and reserve player Dylan Sanders made his mark in his only at-bat of the game, smoking a two-RBI single into right to score Gus Williams and pinch-runner Joe Lazama and leaving himself as the potential mercy-rule-invoking run.

"I take pride in my 'oppo' (opposite-field) hitting," said Sanders, who scored two batters later on a wild pitch to end the game. "I'm not the best runner, but it's all right.

"The way the backstop is here, you just have to go, even if you're slow."

Blue Streak coach Hoppy Rewis said it was tough to start against such a hard-throwing pitcher, but that he was happy with the poise Sebring showed on both sides of the field.

"We have some kids who haven't been here before, and they were nervous early," Rewis said. "The kids have worked hard on defense, knowing from last year that it had to be there.

"For the first night, I thought the pitchers did pretty good, but I'm a little disappointed other pitchers didn't get to throw."

The Streaks were back in action on Friday night against Pasco (see Sunday's Highlands Today for result). They continue preseason play at 7:30 p.m. Monday, when they take on Lake Region at Bill Jarrett Early Bird tourney in Avon Park.

UPCOMIING PREP BASEBALL SCHEDULE

AP First Pitch Classic (at Head Field)

TODAY Avon Park vs. Pasco, noon

Bill Jarrett Early Bird Tourney (at Head Field)

MONDAY Avon Park vs. Auburndale, 5 p.m.

MONDAY Sebring vs. Lake Region, 7:30 p.m.

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com.

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