Thunder Edge Blue Streaks

AVON PARK -- It may be early in the year, but Lake Region pitcher Jacob Newberry was in mid-season form against Sebring in the first round of the Bill Jarrett Early Bird Classic at Head Field on Monday night.

Newberry, a junior right-hander, scattered four hits and struck out nine, and designated hitter Steve Fox slammed a three-run home run to lead the Thunder to a 3-1 win over the Blue Streaks.

"We've pitched good enough to win the last two games, but we've got to score some runs," said Sebring veteran coach Hoppy Rewis. "Newberry is a quality high school pitcher and he doesn't give you much to hit. He's just fast enough with enough off-speed stuff that you can't just look for one pitch."

Sebring junior Cody Higgins pitched well in defeat, as the right-hander allowed only five hits in five innings of work, to go with two walks and one hit batter.

"Cody pitched well," said Rewis. "I called the pitch that was hit for a home run and I'll take the blame for that.

"He's a good kid and throws whatever pitch I call."

Higgins gave up a single and a walk in the top of the first inning, but wiggled out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and catcher Mike Jones threw out a runner trying to steal second base.

Sebring had runners on base the first three innings against the hard-trolling Newberry, but he bore down to record a strikeout to end each threat.

"We've got to quit striking out so much and put

the ball in play," said Rewis. "We lost seven position players and 90 percent of our offense from last year's team.

"It's tough to replace that in two weeks, but we've got kids that can hit and have a lot of ability, they just don't have experience."

Lake Region finally broke through against Higgins in the top of the fifth inning.

Shortstop Ronnie Richardson reached first base on a one-out infield error, the only error of the game, and stole second base.

Catcher Brandon Jostis worked Higgins for a walk and a ground out moved the runners into scoring position.

Fox, a left-handed power hitter who went 1 for 4, turned on a fastball and blasted it over the right-field wall for a three-run homer.

"That ball was meat," Fox said. "I hit it good, but didn't see it go out of the park because I was running hard out of the box."

Newberry, who was only supposed to pitch five innings, had a low pitch count, so the Thunder coaching staff allowed him to try for the complete-game shutout.

Newberry breezed through the sixth inning, but ran into some trouble in the bottom the seventh.

Sebring third baseman Adam Simmons stroked a one-out double and after a strikeout, pinch-hitter Gus Williams ripped a single to center field to score pinch-runner Caleb McGee to bring the tying run to the plate for the Blue Streaks.

Newberry regrouped and struck out the last batter to seal the win for the Thunder.

"We have talent and ability on this team but not much experience," said Rewis. "The kids are working hard to adjust to this level of competition.

"We'll keep working at it, and it may take a little longer than we like, but we'll get to where we want to be eventually."

The tournament continues through Friday with Sebring playing Lake Placid at 5 p.m. Thursday, while Avon Park will play an undetermined opponent on Friday.