Sebring Overpowers Hardee

EAST LAKELAND - The Sebring All-Stars entered the Dixie AAA (ages 9-10) state tournament with a lot of confidence after cruising through the District 8 tournament with ease.

The competition at the state tournament is tougher, but so far, the boys in black and blue haven't been challenged.

Connor Cook led off Sunday's second-round game against Hardee with a solo home run and Jimmy Peck added a three-run blast as Sebring hammered Hardee 12-2 in four innings in Lakeland.

The mercy-rule win kept Sebring, which pummeled East Lakeland 16-2 on Saturday, unbeaten in the 12-team, double-elimination tournament and set up a game at 8 tonight against an undetermined opponent.

"We're really starting to swing the bats well," said Sebring coach Bobby Cannon. "We made some errors that we don't usually make in the early going, but it's hard to find fault with the way we're playing.

"Three more wins and we'll be heading to the World Series."

The winner of the Dixie AAA state tournament advances to the Dixie AAA World Series In La Grange, Ga., which begins on Aug.4.

Hardee grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning when Kyle Hewett lined a two-out single off of Trey Frazier, moved to second when Tanner Durden was hit by a pitch and scored on a single to left field by Hayden Lindsey.

Frazier retired the next batter to end the inning.

Sebring answered in the bottom of the frame.

Cook led off by drilling a fastball from Hewett over the left-center field fence to tie the game.

"I didn't know if it was gone when I hit it," said Cook. "But when I looked up and saw it carry over the fence I was pretty happy"

Frazier then doubled to left-center field and Alex Gomez lined a single.

That brought up Peck and the Sebring catcher crushed a Hewett offering over the right-center field fence for a three-run bomb.

"I don't know what kind of pitch it was," said Peck. "But I killed it and it feels good to hit my first homer in the tournament."

Sebring tacked on another run as Seth Cannady walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Jason Cannon for a 5-1 lead.

Lindsey came on in relief for Hewett.

Hardee tried to rally in the top of the second, but Sebring center fielder Jordan Austin made a spectacular catch to save at least two runs.

Sebring, which banged out 13 hits, tallied a run in the bottom of the frame as Jordan Acevedo singled, Cook reached on an error and Frazier stroked an RBI single to left for a 6-1 lead.

Hardee plated a run in the third inning, but Sebring sealed the win with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the inning.

Nick Staffieri contributed an RBI double, Cannon had a run-scoring hit and Gomez added a two-run double.

That was more than enough support for Frazier, as the right-hander scattered three hits in four innings to pick up the win.

"Trey did a solid job on the mound for us," said coach Cannon. "We've got good depth in the pitching department and we're set up pretty good for our next game.

"We just need to stay focused because we have the talent to get the job done."