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AP Baseball Rallies For First Victory

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: March 14, 2009

ARCADIA - The Avon Park baseball team rallied from five runs down in the fifth inning on Thursday to pick up its first district victory of the season with an 8-5 win over DeSoto.

Buddy Duke, Jeff Fallis and Matt Rivers were each 3-for-4 at the plate, and Duke hit would became the game-winning RBI during a six-run six innings that saw five Devil hits and three DeSoto errors.

Kyle Jackson also knocked a big hit in the sixth, one that netted two insurance runs and gave the Red Devils the first of what coach Mort Jackson will be many wins from here on out.

"We're all excited, most definitely," Mort Jackson said, noting the Devils got to the Bulldogs' starter in the fifth before the AP bats erupted on a reliever who issued a walk and a hit batsman. "It's more of a relief than anything to get one in the win column.

"Now let's see what we can put together."

The Devils (1-7, 1-3) faced Booker on Friday night (see Sunday's Highlands Today for complete coverage). They return to action on Monday when they host St. Albans at 6 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS: Sebring 6, Hardee 1
WAUCHULA - Kaley Walter persevered through a 3.5-hour match at No. 2 singles on Thursday and the Sebring girls tennis team stayed undefeated with a 6-1 district victory over Hardee.

Walter dispatched Shelby Durrance 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in a back-and-forth battle that drew quite a crowd and built plenty of confidence for the whole Streak squad.

"When a match goes that long, it's all about wearing your opponent down," said SHS coach Jane Hollinger. "It's all about who can keep it in play longer.

"We're looking at districts and we want to stay as tough as we can. It's mentally important that you win those matches, and she hung tough."

Hollinger said No. 1 Kelsie Johnson was "very steady" in her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Clara Durrance, while No. 4 Kelsey Tucker impressed with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 victory over Kate Krause and Shana Bassett edged past Summer Palmer 6-2, 6-3.

In doubles action, Johnson and Walter defeated the Durrances 8-5, while April Wallace and Alex Birdwell knocked off Wood and Krause 7-5, 6-0.

The Wildcats picked up their lone victory of the afternoon at No. 3 singles, where Kayla Wood got past Alyssa Kariofyllis 6-3, 7-6.

The Streaks, 5-0 overall and 4-0 in district, are optimistic about their chances with less than a month before districts, but Hollinger said they can't afford to take any competitor lightly.

"They're feeling confident, but they know every match is important," Hollinger said, noting the Streaks' six matches over the next two weeks. "We're looking at districts and we want to stay as tough as we can."

The Streaks are back in action on Monday, when the boys and girls teams welcome Okeechobee. Matches begin at 3:30 p.m.

BASEBALL: Mulberry 10, Lake Placid 9

MULBERRY - The Lake Placid baseball team cruised into the fifth inning with a six-run advantage, but the Panthers sent the Dragons home with a 10-9 loss on Thursday in Class 3A-District 10 action.

"We were up 6-0 in the fifth and we fell apart," said LP coach Dan Coomes. "After the first four innings, we were breezing along, hitting the ball and stealing and doing everything we were supposed to do.

"In the fifth, it was like a different ballgame."

The Dragons made six errors from then on couldn't get back on top despite two hits from Kyle Barber, who had two hits, including a double.

Lake Placid faced McKeel on Friday night (see Sunday's Highlands Today for result). They return to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when they host Frostproof.

SOFTBALL: Fort Meade 10, Avon Park 8
AVON PARK - The Red Devil softball team scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Fort Meade held on for a 10-8 victory over Avon Park on Thursday in non-district action at APHS.

Katelynn Stoll led the AP offensive charge with a two-hit, three-RBI night, while Cheyenne Milles and Sarah Hunnicutt each added two hits and an RBI.

"We played well, but we still made mistakes and we had to come back from," said AP coach Wade Jackson. "We made those little mental mistakes that we have to overcome."

The Devils, who faced Booker on Friday night (see Sunday's Highlands Today for results) return to the diamond on Tuesday, when they host Hardee at 7:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL: Lake Placid 10, All Saints 5

WINTER HAVEN - Alyssa Allen pitched a complete-game and struck out six to lead Lake Placid to a 10-5 win over All Saints Academy in a non-district softball game on Thursday night.

The win improved the Green Dragons to 2-5 on the season.

"All Saints is a fairly young team and we took advantage of some of their mistakes," said Lake Placid coach Marilyn Jones. "We swung the bats well, Alyssa pitched a solid game and we played well behind her."

The Green Dragons took control by getting ahead in the first two innings and then holding off an All Saints comeback.

Catcher Ashley Paeplow, Diane Martinez and Allen had two hits each to pace the Green Dragon offense.

"We came out aggressive and jumped on All Saints early," said Jones. "We did to them what other teams have done to us.

"I'm proud of the girls because we've lost some tough games, but they keep battling and we get better every game we play."

Lake Placid is back on the diamond with a home game against Moore Haven on Tuesday.

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

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