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Okeechobee Edges Avon Park

Matt Flowers/Highlands Today

Avon Park right-hander Stephen Flowers allowed two hits in three innings of work in Sunday's game against Okeechobee in the Dixie Boys (14) District 8 tournament at Max Long Recreational Complex.

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By MATT FLOWERS For Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2009

SEBRING - The air seemed a little bit tighter Sunday afternoon at Max Long Recreational Complex, as Avon Park and Okeechobee faced off in a battle of unbeaten teams in day three of the Dixie Boys (age 14) District 8 tournament.

Avon Park had its sights set on a third win in as many days and an automatic berth into the championship round, but the Okeechobee pitching staff had other plans as the dynamic duo of right-handers Dalton Murray and Tyler Barber held a potent Avon Park offense to just three hits and one earned run, as Okeechobee held on for a 4-2 win.

Okeechobee was able to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth, but Avon Park also had prime opportunities, loading the bases in the sixth and seventh innings, but the boys in red came away with no runs.

An Avon Park offense that had been producing well the first two days suddenly struggled to find its stroke, something head coach Jeff Brock says they can't make a habit of.

"I was disappointed with that performance," said Coach Brock. "This isn't anything we haven't seen before. We have got to be able to hit the ball when we have runners in scoring position.

"That's the bottom line."

The most anticipated matchup of the tournament began and ended as a defensive chess match, with Avon Park turning a 6-4 double play in the first inning and a 6-5 beauty that ended the second inning.

Murray's first two strikeouts came in the second inning and helped to keep Avon Park off the scoreboard.

But Alfred "Big Red" Brown landed a single in the top of the third and was driven in by an Alex Rosa double that rolled to the left-center field fence to give Avon Park its first lead at 2-0.

The third inning also provided Okeechobee with a spark in the bottom half, as Macho Estrena singled into left field and Jack Radebough drew a walk to put two runners on.

A wild pitch and an errant throw allowed both runners to score to knot the contest at 2.

Lane Crosson relieved starter Stephen Flowers on the mound for Avon Park in the bottom of the fourth inning and kept the Okeechobee lineup off-balance for a while.

But a pair of walks in the fifth set up an Okeechobee hit-and-run attempt that worked with a single by Barber that plated a pair of runs to give Okeechobee a 4-2 lead.

A series of walks gave Avon Park a chance to come back, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth.

Brown seemed to have powered one over the right fielder's head, but a great over-the-shoulder grab ended the at-bat keeping Okeechobee ahead.

The final two of Barber's six strikeouts came in Avon Park's second and last attempt to score with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, ending the chess match and sending Avon Park into its bye day on Monday with a loss to recover from.

"They're a good team," said Okeechobee head coach Brian Morgan of the Avon Park All-Stars. "That's definitely the best pitching we've seen. They're strong at the plate and on defense, but they had a couple break downs and that's how we scored."

The two teams could definitely meet again in the championship round of the five-team, double-elimination tournament.

Avon Park received a Monday bye despite the loss because Okeechobee had already received one earlier in the tournament.

Instead, Okeechobee faced one-loss contender Sebring Monday night for a spot in tonight's District 8 championship game.

Results of Monday night's game were not available at press time.

For the complete story and photos from Monday night's contest, be sure to check out Wednesday's Highlands Today sports section.

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