Sebring Hammers AP

SEBRING -- After trailing late and getting a scare in Saturday's 12-4 win over Lake Placid in the Dixie AAA District 8 tournament, Sebring made sure that didn't happen against Avon Park on Sunday.

The boys in blue and white pounded out 10 hits en route to a 17-3 win over Avon Park at Max Long Recreational Complex.

The win kept Sebring unbeaten in the six-team, double-elimination tournament, while the loss eliminated Avon Park.

"Our pitching has been awesome the entire tournament and our bats are coming alive," said Sebring head coach Bobby Cannon. "We're hitting the ball hard and having fun and we're in a great position."

The Sebring victory set up a game on Monday night against once-beaten Okeechobee American, which eliminated Lake Placid 11-0 on Sunday afternoon.

If Sebring, which defeated Okeechobee American 10-0 on Saturday, wins, the tournament is over, but an Okeechobee American win would set up a final game at 6 tonight for the District 8 championship.

Both teams advance to the state tournament in Lakeland which begins July 5.

Sebring got started quickly against Avon Park.

Connor Cook led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field, stole second and scored on Jimmy Peck's two-out double to left field.

Seth Cannady followed with a double to center field off of right-hander Bobby Pough to plate Peck for a 2-0 lead.

Cook pitched the first two innings and the right-hander earned the win by limiting Avon Park to one hit.

Sebring, which has scored 49 runs in four games, erupted in the bottom of the second inning.

Nick Staffieri singled, stole second and scored on Jordan Austin's single to center field.

Gerig Blackman reached on a fielder's choice and a walk to Jordan Acevedo loaded the bases.

Rowdy Sebring blooped an RBI single down the right-field line and Cook followed with a two-run double.

Matthew Portis came on in relief of Pough, but the Avon Park right-hander plunked three consecutive batters.

Anthony Torres came on in relief and Jason Cannon greeted him with a two-run double down the left-field line.

Cannon stole third and scored on a wild pitch to give Sebring a 13-0 lead.

"We started the tournament a little slow with the bats," said coach Cannon. "But we've gotten better with each game we've played.

"We're taking good swings and being aggressive at the plate and we need to keep doing that."

Sebring tacked on four more runs in the third inning capped by Cannady's RBI single for a 17-0 advantage.

Alex Gomez came on in relief for Sebring and gave up three runs, but retired the last Avon Park batter on a ground out for the win because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Now, only Okeechobee American stands in the way of a District 8 title.

"We've clinched a trip to state, but we want to go as district champions," said coach Cannon. "Even though we beat Okeechobee American once, we respect them and know we're going to have to come ready to play ball. "We have all our pitchers ready to go and we don't want to have to come back for a game on Tuesday night.

"If we hit the ball, throw strikes and play defense, we should win."

Okeechobee American 11, Lake Placid 0

Okeechobee American broke open a close game with a big third inning en route to an 11-0 win on Sunday in a game shortened to four innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

The loss eliminated Lake Placid from the double-elimination tournament, while Okeechobee American faced Sebring on Monday night.