Okeechobee Edges Sebring

OKEECHOBEE - It's never easy against Okeechobee.

The first-round game between Sebring and Okeechobee in the Dixie 14-year-old boys District 8 tournament was dominated by outstanding pitching and stellar defensive plays by both teams.

But in the end, it came down to Okeechobee's Noah Wilcox and his shirt.

Wilcox -- or, more correctly -- his shirt was brushed by a pitch from Sebring reliever Zach Osha with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to force in Justin Morgan for a 2-1 Okeechobee victory.

The close call brought an uproar from the Sebring fans and coaches, but the run counted to end the game.

"The umpire said the pitch brushed the Okeechobee player's shirt," said Sebring shortstop Seth Abeln. "But our catcher said it didn't touch him.

"It's a disappointing loss, but we had our chances, we just didn't swing the bats."

The loss sent Sebring into an elimination game against Avon Park on Sunday afternoon after AP fell 11-3 to Clewiston in Saturday's other first-round game. See highlandstoday.com/sports and Tuesday's Highlands Today for complete coverage of that game.

Sebring, which was beaten twice by Okeechobee in last year's District tournament, got on the board in the top of the first inning.

Abeln reached first base on a two-out walk off of Okeechobee left-hander Timmy Farrell, stole second base and third base and when the throw got away scampered home for a 1-0 lead.

Okeechobee tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Center fielder Will Jackson reached first base on an infield error and went to second base when a pick-off throw got away.

Brad Coleman sacrificed Jackson to third base and Wilcox came through with a two-out double down the right-field line off of Tommy Bertoniere to tie the game.

Bertoniere was outstanding, as the left-hander allowed only three hits in six innings of work.

Farrell was also magnificent on the mound for Okeechobee, as the left-hander scattered two hits and struck out eight in his five innings of work.

Mark Weir came on in relief for Okeechobee and picked up the win with three innings of scoreless relief.

Sebring had runners on base in the last two innings, but couldn't get the key hit off of Weir.

Okeechobee mounted its winning rally as Morgan drew a leadoff walk and Weir drew a walk off of Abeln, who came on in relief in the seventh inning.

Osha was brought in and got two outs and walked a batter.

That brought up Wilcox, who was hit with the first pitch to end the game.

"We had our chances and didn't take advantage of them," said Abeln. "But we can't worry about that game anymore.

"We have to focus on Avon Park and doing what it takes to beat them."