Local stars shine in FACA Classic

More than 80 of Florida's finest high school senior baseball players gathered at Firemen's Field on Friday to kick off the 31st annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) Baseball All-Star Classic, including three of Highlands County's best.

Avon Park's Kyle Jackson and Sebring's Cody Higgins were representatives on the East team, while Lake Placid's Perry Mason suited up for the North squad.

All three players saw significant playing time in front of a crowd littered with college and professional scouts, but it was Jackson, Higgins and the rest of the East squad that picked up a 7-5 over win over the West in day one of the two-day event.

Things were looking grim at first for the East, with soon-to-be Florida Gator Patrick Schuster of New Port Richey-Mitchell High School living up to his reputation on the mound, tossing three scoreless innings. Schuster threw an astounding four consecutive no-hitters this season, just two shy of the national record of six.

Fort Myers Bishop Verot third baseman Bobby Borchering gave the West a 4-0 lead with a two-run home run in the top of the third, but Altamonte-Lake Brantley High School's Nick Franklin tied things up in the bottom of the fourth.

Jackson and Higgins teamed up to break a 4-all tie in the bottom of the sixth inning as Higgins lined a single to right field and Jackson drove him home with an RBI single, his second hit of the night.

The former Red Devil finished 3-for-4 with the one RBI and even got to receive his high school diploma between the seventh and eighth innings, having missed the graduation ceremony to play in the prestigious event.

The winning one-two punch that was Jackson and Higgins on Friday night hopes to be a sign of things to come, as both plan to transfer their talents to the South Florida Community College diamond next year.

"I hope we get used to that," said Higgins of playing with Jackson at the next level. "Hopefully, we can both continue to have the same success at the next level. I wouldn't mind getting on a few times to have him drive me in."

Jackson and Higgins have been friendly rivals since their days in Dixie Youth Baseball.

"We've always been friends," said Jackson. "Even though we were rivals, it's great having him out here playing with us and winning.

"We're both looking forward to being teammates next year."

South powers past North

Plantation-American Heritage standout Deven Marrero and Hialeah-American High School's Darnell Sweeney led the South team to an 11-3 win over the North in Friday's opening game of the FACA Baseball All-Star Classic at Firemen's Field in Sebring.

Marrero accounted for four runs, going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two steals. Sweeney showed off his pro potential as well, with a double and a run-scoring single.

Lake Placid pitcher Perry Mason couldn't dig the North out of the eight-run deficit, but the Green Dragon right-hander did look solid in three innings of work, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout.

"Overall it really was a great experience," said Mason of playing with Florida's most sought after baseball players. "I met a lot of good guys and there are a lot of really good ball players out there. I was pretty happy with my performance."