Streaks escape with walk-off win

With the game on the line, one of Sebring's biggest hitters executed a most precise tactic.

Corbin Hoffner's sacrifice bunt became the game-winning hit Friday, after Winter Haven pitcher Tyler Pike threw the ball into the outfield to send the Blue Streaks to a thrilling 2-1 win in the Class 5A-District 5 opener at Firemen's Field.

"The big question was if we could step up and play somebody of that caliber," Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis said, "and we just need to figure out how to play with that intensity all the time."

It'll be hard to duplicate the suspense of the seventh inning, when Sebring starter Josh Chavis blew a one-run lead, only to watch as the Blue Streaks made the most of their three hits to pull out the unlikely victory.

Jesse Baker walked and Evan Lewis singled to start the inning, and after Rewis briefly considered a pinch-hitter, Hoffner, one of the tallest players on the team, strode to the plate.

Then the surprise - he laid down a perfect bunt, putting the pressure on Pike to make an accurate throw to third to get the force out. He wheeled around and instead fired wide as the ball dribbled into the outfield, allowing pinch-runner Cameron Willey to score.

"We expect to make those plays," Rewis said.

The game-ending sacrifice preserved a solid outing from Chavis, who scattered seven hits and struck out eight in a complete-game effort. He had some help defensively, as his outfielders repeatedly made catches on the warning track, and second baseman Matt Randall made a spectacular stop in the seventh to prevent another run from scoring.

"If they don't score," Rewis said, "it doesn't matter where they hit it."

Sebring first broke through in the fourth, as shortstop Cody Hoffner ripped a double that snuck under the left fielder's glove, allowing Seth Abeln to score from first to give the Blue Streaks a 1-0 lead. They put runners on second and third with no out in the sixth but failed to score after two strikeouts and a groundout.

With no pitcher initially warming up in the bullpen, Chavis began to tire in the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double to Levi Borders, before Randall ranged to his left, knocked down a hard-hit ball and threw the next batter out to protect Sebring's lead.

But Winter Haven's Nate Cruz then followed with a single through the left side of the infield, which glanced off Hoffner's glove at shortstop, to tie the game at 1. Chavis was able to escape the inning without further damage.

"Josh made big pitches when he had to," Rewis said. "It was his best outing but it wasn't his best stuff."

All that mattered on this night was that he came away with the win, as Sebring improved to 5-2 this season. The Blue Streaks are off until Tuesday, when they host Osceola at 7 at Firemen's Field.