Sebring downs Lake Placid

Sebring took advantage of several errors by Lake Placid in the final innings to pull off a big win over the Green Dragons at Charles R. Head Field on Tuesday night.

After a tight game through the first five innings, where Sebring led by only one run, a string of mistakes cost Lake Placid, and Sebring was able to score eight runs in the final two innings for a 12-3 win.

"They did great until their pitching went bad," Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis said. "We know what that feels like the way it was the other night with us."

In the fifth inning, Sebring loaded the bases and proceeded to score four runs off three walks and a wild pitch.

Sebring was able to pile on from there, adding four insurance runs in the seventh to prevent Lake Placid from making any kind of comeback.

"We're not mentally tough yet," said Lake Placid coach Dan Coomes. "This is what we're trying to do and figure out where we are at. "We have six first-year starters and two of them are freshmen.

"I thought we did pretty good for that. If we can get better we'll be all right."

Jesse Baker led the way for the Blue Streaks with a big night at the plate going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and an RBI double.

"I don't know where that power comes from," Rewis said. "He doesn't use much lower body but he has tremendous power. He can look really bad on two swings and then hit it a long ways."

Right-hander Sheldon Williams had a strong start for the Blue Streaks throwing into the sixth inning with six strikeouts.

Williams faced some adversity in the third inning when he allowed three runs, but he settled in after that and pitched well before he was taken out in the sixth.

Sebring took the early lead when Baker blasted a two-run homer in the third inning.

Lake Placid bounced back scoring all three of its runs in the bottom half of the inning, capped off by a run-scoring single into left field from Colby Delaney.

Sebring was able to bounce back and took the lead for good in the fourth inning behind excellent base running from Josh Chavis, who hit a triple, and Matt Randall, who knocked Chavis in and then worked his way around the bases to eventually score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Even with the win, there is plenty of room for growth for the Blue Streaks.

"We can play better defense than we're playing," Rewis said. "I don't know if it's because it's early in the season or what."

Both teams will be playing again today at Charles R. Head Field in Avon Park as Lake Placid takes on Lake Region at 4:30 and Sebring plays DeSoto at 7:30 p.m.