Streaks' Run Comes To An End In Cooperstown

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - The Sebring Streaks' run for a championship came to an end late Wednesday when the Triple H team of Orlando put on an aerial show by slamming home runs in bunches, leading to a 10-2 defeat at the Cooperstown Dreams Park National Invitational Tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park.

Before falling to Triple H, however, the Streaks played one of the most exciting elimination games of the night in an 8-7 victory over the Louisa Lightning of Virginia.

Sebring finished more than three days of qualifying games seeded 24th out of 98 teams. That gave Sebring two byes, so the Streaks' first elimination game was set against the Lightning.

The Lightning saved their best pitcher for Sebring, and his fastball and effective change-up left the Streak batters heading back to the dugout almost as quickly as they stepped up to bat. Meanwhile, the Lightning put up four runs in the first inning to Sebring's one run.

After the first inning, Alfred Brown's pitching quieted the Lightning's batters, but Sebring didn't fare well in the batters box.

In the fifth inning, however, the tide began to turn.

As the Lightning's pitcher began to tire and was eventually replaced, Sebring's bats came alive when Brown walked and Cullen Lovett was hit by a pitch. Garrett DeRoss then ripped a single, which scored Brown and Lovett. But in the same inning, the Lightning added to their lead by finishing the fifth inning with three runs.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth and final inning, Ty Little hit a single and Tyler Carr walked. Brown then scored Little.

Lovett, who has never hit a home run in a game, stepped the plate and hit a three-run shot over the centerfield fence to tie the game.

In the seventh inning, the Streaks' defense shut down the Lightning and gave Sebring a chance to end the game. The Streaks' first batter struck out looking and the second one grounded out. Carr then worked the count to 3-2 before launching a home run over the left-field fence to win the game in dramatic fashion.

Although the Streaks were done for the tournament, all players were inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame and took part in closing ceremonies.