Heartbreak: Raider Rally Stuns Streaks

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FORT MYERS -- As the national anthem played before the start of Saturday's Class 4A regional final between Sebring and Riverdale, the flag was flapping in a stiff breeze blowing out to center field.

The combination of the windy conditions and two weary pitching staffs from Friday's first two games of the best-of-three series made for a slugfest, and Riverdale, down to its last six outs, rallied from a six-run deficit to score nine runs in the sixth inning and hang on for an 11-10 victory to earn a spot in the state semifinals.

"Riverdale gave us some outs early and we gave them some outs toward the end of the game," said Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis. "Both of us were out of pitching and I'm sure that's happening all over the state.

"I make no bones about it, I'm not an advocate of this new system of playing the best out of three series. It puts the kids in jeopardy of getting hurt because they're tired or a pitcher throwing too many pitches in a short period of time."

The Blue Streaks, who made it to the state semifinals last year, looked to be in good shape after blasting three home runs to take a commanding 8-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.

But the heat, humidity and playing three games in 24 hours took its toll on starting pitcher Cody Higgins.

The junior right-hander, who started Friday night's second game, limited the potent Raiders offense to only three hits through five innings before things unraveled in the fateful sixth.

"My change-up and curveball were working pretty good today and I was able to keep the ball down in the zone," said Higgins. "But I got tired in the sixth, lost the strike zone and started falling behind in the count.

"Riverdale is a good-hitting team and once the momentum swung their way, it was hard to stop it."

Sebring looked good early as senior first baseman Tony Vazquez blasted a mammoth two-run homer in the top of the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead.

The Blue Streaks added to their lead in the third as sophomore Gus Williams, who went 3 for 4, tripled in two runs for a 5-2 advantage.

Williams homered in the fifth and ripped an RBI double in the sixth inning as Sebring built an 8-2 lead.

Riverdale loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame and scored the first run on an infield throwing error.

Designated hitter Cory Williams' single scored two runs, and Adam Simmons came on in relief of Higgins.

Simmons gave up a walk, a single and a sacrifice fly and Nick Stewart, who led off the inning with a single, doubled down the left-field line to give the Raiders a 9-8 lead.

Matt Musto came on to get the last two outs, but surrendered a two-run double to Garrett Greenwell to make it 11-8.

Sebring refused to fold, as Higgins, who went 3 for 3 with a single and two home runs, drilled a two-out, two-run homer to left field to bring the Blue Streaks within a run.

But Stewart, who earned the win with two innings of relief, struck out the last batter to end the threat.

"We had a chance to put Riverdale away in the fourth when we had the bases loaded, but we didn't score," said Rewis. "We battled back that last inning, but Riverdale just made a couple of more plays then we did.

"You feel bad for the seniors, but we won twenty-two games this season, and with all the adversity and injuries we went through, that's a pretty good year."