Blue Streaks Cruise Past Tornadoes

Sebring took advantage of playing last-place Sarasota Booker by blasting the Tornadoes by a score of 13-1 a Class 4A-District 10 match on Friday night.

Sebring's Jesse Baker continued his torrid hitting with a three-run double as the Blue Streaks exploded for five runs in the top of the first inning to take control. Dustin Lang earned the win on the mound and Cody Hoffner had two RBI as Sebring scored early and often against Booker's beleaguered pitching staff.

The win improved the Blue Streaks to 6-2 in district play, while the loss dropped the Tornadoes to 0-8.

"It was a good win for us," said Sebring assistant coach Buck Rapp. "We swung the bats and jumped on Booker early.

"Dustin did a good job of throwing the ball and we had some other guys get a chance to pitch a little."

Sebring is back on the diamond on Monday when the Blue Streaks take on Clewiston at 7 p.m. in the Lake Placid spring break tournament at Roger Scarborough Stadium.

BASEBALL: Braden River 5, Avon Park 1

BRADENTON - Braden River's pitching staff managed to shut down the potent Avon Park attack and the Pirates got just enough offense to beat the Red Devils by a score of 5-1 in Class 4A-District 10 baseball on Friday night.

"Braden River threw a lefty and a righty against us and we couldn't get anything going," said Avon Park coach Mort Jackson. "We had some guys get on base, but we couldn't get them in."

The loss dropped Avon Park to 3-12 overall and 3-4 in district play.

The Red Devils take on First Academy at 1 p.m. on Monday in the first round of the Lake Placid spring break tournament at Roger Scarborough Stadium.

SOFTBALL: Sebring 15, Booker 1

Haley Pack threw a complete-game one-hitter and Michelle Bash crushed a three-run homer to lead Sebring to a 15-1 rout of Sarasota Booker in Class 4A-District 10 softball on Friday night.

"Haley did a good job on the mound," said Blue Streak coach Joe Sinness. "She was a little wild, but managed to keep Booker off the scoreboard and our offense did the rest."

The win improved Sebring to 6-3 in district play and the Blue Streaks are off for spring break.

"We need to get some girls healed up and the break gives us a chance to get some rest," said Sinness. "But we have to be ready to play when we come back because we have a big district game against DeSoto our first day back to school.

"If we can beat DeSoto we have a good chance to grab the second seed behind Braden River for the district tournament."

SOFTBALL: Palmetto 12, Avon Park 2

PALMETTO - Katelynn Stoll drove in both Avon Park runs, but it wasn't enough as Palmetto rolled to a 12-2 win in Class 4A-District 10 softball on Friday night.

"We hadn't played in a week and it showed," said Red Devil coach Wade Jackson. "We made a couple of mistakes and Palmetto is a good club and took advantage of them.

"We started out well, but didn't finish that way."

Avon Park, which fell to 3-6 in district play, is off for spring break and the Red Devils are back in action at Lake Placid on April 6.

SOFTBALL: DeSoto 10, Lake Placid 0

ARCADIA - Things started out well for Lake Placid, but they didn't finish that way as DeSoto cruised to a 10-0 win in non-district softball on Friday night.

"We aren't swinging the bats or playing good defense and that makes for a long night," said Green Dragon coach Marilyn Jones. "We started out well, but then we made some errors and gave DeSoto a bunch of runs.

"Maybe the spring break will do us some good, because we haven't been playing up to our ability."