Red Devils Hold Off Tornadoes

Avon Park junior hurler Dylan Heiring picked a good time to record the first win of his varsity career.

Heiring scattered five hits and allowed three runs in five innings and senior first baseman Kyle Jackson drove in four runs as Avon Park overcame four errors en route to a 10-7 win over Sarasota Booker on Friday night at Head Field.

The Class 4A-District 10 win improved the Red Devils to 2-7 overall and 2-3 in district play.

"It's better to win ugly than to lose pretty," said Avon Park coach Mort Jackson. "We let Booker back in the game by making errors and doing stupid things and if you let a team stick around they start believing they can beat you.

"I'd much rather win than lose and we're still experimenting with different lineups and trying to get better."

Avon Park jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff hitter Matt Rivera was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on Jackson's double to left field for a 1-0 lead.

Booker, which dropped to 0-9, 0-4, had the bases loaded with only one out in the top of the third inning, but Heiring wriggled out of the jam by getting a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.

Avon Park added to its lead in the bottom of the frame as Jimmy Goins singled, moved to third base on an error and scored on a two-run double by Jackson for a 4-0 lead.

Jackson hit an RBI triple to center field in the fourth inning to give the Red Devils a commanding 6-0 lead.

Jackson, who needed a home run for the cycle, struck out in his last at-bat.

"I've been working hard in the cage and it's paying off," said Kyle Jackson. "I don't get pitched to a lot and I have to admit I was thinking about the cycle my last trip to the plate.

"But whenever I try to hit a home run I don't."

Booker refused to quit and rallied for three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to trim its deficit to 9-7.

Avon Park tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, RBI single by Josh Rodgers.

Right-hander Jeff Falis pitched the last two innings and retired the Tornadoes in order in the seventh inning to seal the district win.

"This is our second win in a row and it's good for our confidence," said Kyle Jackson. "We've had some injuries, but we're starting to get everybody back and playing better."

The four Red Devil errors didn't please Coach Jackson.

"It's been an interesting year so far," said the Avon Park skipper. "We've been inconsistent in the field, but we're working hard to get better and there is a lot of baseball left.

"Despite all the adversity we've faced this season, we're still in the district race and anything can happen."

Avon Park hosts St. Albans on Monday and then the Red Devils play at Sebring on Tuesday night.