Blue Streaks Hold Off Red Devils

Making the transition to high school varsity baseball hasn't been that difficult for Sebring sophomore Jesse Baker.

The Sebring catcher continued to make an impact by going 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Blue Streaks to a 6-4 win over Avon Park in a Class 4A-District 10 baseball game at Firemen's Field on Tuesday night.

"I was focused tonight," said Baker. "I just waited back and looked for something I could drive. "It means a lot to beat Avon Park because it's an intense rivalry.

"I had to make some adjustments because everything happens faster at the varsity level and the pitchers are much better with a lot more command of their pitches."

The win improved Sebring to 5-1 in district play, while Avon Park dropped to 2-4.

"Avon Park is always tough," said veteran Blue Streak coach Hoppy Rewis. "Both pitching staffs did a good job and we were able to put enough hits together to score some runs."

Avon Park, which was without senior slugger Kyle Jackson, who was out with a strained muscle, battled Sebring down to the very last pitch.

"If we can continue to play like we did tonight, we're going to start winning some games," said Red Devil skipper Mort Jackson. "We just have to weather the storm, quit making mistakes and start playing with confidence.

"We've got a young team, we're cutting down on our errors and we just have to keep working hard to get better."

Avon Park took the lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Ty Jackson and a sacrifice fly by Densby Jackson for a 2-0 lead.

Sebring answered with a run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Baker that plated Cody Higgins to trim its deficit to 2-1.

The Blue Streaks took command of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Kevin Welborn lined a leadoff single off of Avon Park left-hander Dylan Heiring, stole second and third base and trotted home on a wild pitch.

Corbin Hoffner walked, Higgins reached on an error and Cody Hoffner walked to load the bases.

Gus Williams had an infield single to score a run and Baker lined a two-run single to left to give Sebring a 5-3 lead.

The Blue Streaks tacked on a run in the sixth on Baker's two-out RBI double for a three-run cushion.

Welborn earned the win, as the right-hander scattered five hits in his five innings of work.

Gus Williams pitched the sixth and got one out in the seventh inning before Avon Park mounted one last rally.

The Red Devils loaded the bases and Josh Rodgers drew a walk off of Williams to force in a run.

Higgins, a senior right-hander, came on in relief and struck out the next two Avon Park hitters to seal the district win.

"It' never gets old beating Avon Park," said Higgins. "I like having the ball in my hand when the game is on the line and I knew I had to go right at the hitters.

"This is a good win for us and we're working hard to get better."

Sebring hosts St. Albans tonight and then the Blue Streaks host district rival Palmetto on Friday night, while Avon Park is back on the diamond on Friday with an away game at Frostproof.