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Devils, Dragons Get Caught At Early Bird Tourney

Mark Pinson, Highlands Today

The Avon Park baseball team dropped its second straight game to Auburndale on Tuesday during the Bill Jarrett Early Bird Tournament at Head Field.

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Highlands Today Staff Report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2009

AVON PARK - Kyle Jackson's double in the first inning turned out to be the Red Devils' only offense on Tuesday as a talented Auburndale squad topped Avon Park for the second straight day, 6-0, at the Bill Jarrett Early Bird Tournament at Head Field.

"They have a good little team," said AP coach Mort Jackson. "They hit well and they have good pitching. It's going to be a good final between them and Lake Region (on Friday)."

Five different Red Devils had hits behind Jackson on the mound for three innings, while Dylan Heiring finished with three hitless innings to keep the Bloodhounds in check.

"Dylan threw strikes," Coach Jackson said about his junior lefty. "He moved it around pretty good and he kept kids off-balance."

The Devils are back in action on Feb. 26, when they host Frostproof.

BASEBALL: Lake Region 7, Lake Placid 0

The Lake Placid baseball team allowed just four hits to Lake Region on Tuesday, but five errors and five walks doomed the Green Dragons to a 7-0 loss to the Thunder at the Early Bird Tournament at Head Field.

"We played a very good ballclub," said LP coach Dan Coomes, whose team managed just one hit, a double by Kyle Barber. "We made some uncharacteristic errors and we weren't sharp defensively. They have a lot of kids with speed, and I think that made us a little nervous."

David Samperi threw four innings, while Barber struck out three and walked one over three solid innings. Coomes said his team had trouble tracking a crafty pitcher from the opening inning.

"The kid they started threw about 70 percent breaking pitches," Coomes said. "We weren't prepared for that.

"But in the grand scheme of things, we got beat by a really solid team and they only had four hits. I'm never happy with a loss, but I think we know the things we have to correct."

The Dragons are back in action at 7 p.m. tonight against Sebring. See Saturday's Highlands Today for complete coverage, including photos and reaction.

EARLY BIRD TOURNEY

TUESDAY'S RESULTS

Auburndale 6, Avon Park 0

Lake Region 7, Lake Placid 0

TODAY Lake Placid vs. Sebring, 7 p.m.

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

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