MAJORS: Controversial Call Costs Avon Park

A controversial call in the top of the sixth inning spoiled a stellar pitching performance by Tyrone Perry on Saturday, as the Avon Park Majors (11-12) All-Stars fell 1-0 to Liberty County in the opening round of the Dixie Youth Majors state tournament.

After Liberty's first batter walked in the top of the sixth, a shot off the wall was played perfectly by Avon Park, leaving two Liberty runners standing on second base. The ensuing throw to first base resulted in a tag, but allowed the Liberty runner to scamper to third.

The throw to third, however, sailed over the AP third baseman's head, and the umpire ruled the Liberty runner was obstructed on his way home and awarded the game's lone run to Liberty County.

"You hate to see the umpire make a controversial call in a situation like that and give a team a run in such a close game," said AP coach Pete Zeegers.

Avon Park now falls to the loser's bracket, where they'll face Highlands Park at 1:30 on Sunday.

Perry, along with the Liberty County pitcher, each had 12 strikeouts, and after Liberty's leadoff batter reached base in the first inning, Perry was perfect until the sixth. After the run was awarded to Liberty, Perry calmly struck out the next two batters, setting up a near-comeback for Avon Park in the bottom of the frame.

AP led off the inning with a hit batsman and had runners on second and third, but a heads-up play in the infield by Liberty and a clutch strikeout ended the game.

"I thought we had the game-winning hit," Zeegers said. "Our boys turned a double play up the middle, caught some nice balls off their bats and our infielders and outfielders made some great plays. And Tyrone Perry pitched a great game -- he was dominant."

Jose Torres, Cody Pearlman and Mark Devlin each had hits for Avon Park.