Sebring surges past Bartow

Sometimes the only difference is momentum; just ask the Sebring Dixie AAA (ages 9-10) All-Stars who turned a slim 3-1 third-inning lead into an eye-popping 17-2 victory in the opening round of the Dixie AAA state tournament on Saturday at Max Long Recreational Complex.

The first three innings saw both teams scratching and clawing for runs before the Sebring offense unloaded for five runs in the fourth and nine more in the fifth.

The Bartow bats simply never came around as the visitors from Polk County ran out of time in the bottom of the fifth inning when the game was called because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Gabe Gomez, who was named the game's MVP, led the way for the Sebring offense going 2-for-4 with seven RBIs. Second baseman Trent Lewis finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs as did first baseman Payton Terry. Sean Osceola picked up the victory from the mound as Sebring advanced into the winner's bracket to take on West Volusia National on Sunday.

Results from that contest were not available at press time, but for full story and photos be sure the read Tuesday's edition of the Highlands Today sports section.

For the latest results, go to highlandstoday.com.

Leading by just one run going into the third inning, the bottom of the Sebring lineup helped show a sign of things to come.

Jace Lewis ripped a leadoff single into right field while Jan Martinez landed one of his own opposite field to finally put a little pressure on Bartow pitcher Tristan Jones. Gomez drove in Jace Lewis with a sacrifice fly into center field, followed by a Trent Lewis RBI single into right that plated Martinez and pushed the Sebring lead to three.

Bartow did manage to get on the board in the bottom of the inning, with Nick Tamayo landing a leadoff single before stealing his way to third to be driven home by a Tyler Torres RBI ground out, cutting the Sebring lead back to two.

A pair of Bartow defensive errors and a line-drive single from Terry loaded the bases for Sebring in the top of the fourth inning, bringing Gomez to the plate with two outs. One swing of Gomez's bat swung every bit of the game's momentum in Sebring's favor, as he sent one screaming to the center-field wall. The blast cleared the bases, while Gomez displayed his speed rounding third and beating the play at home for an inside-the-park grand slam that put Sebring on top 8-1.

Bartow was only able to add a single run in the bottom of the frame, but the Sebring offense was nowhere near finished going into the fifth.

Everett Hurst and Justin Bickman both put down perfect bunts along with another single from Terry to load the bases once again for the Sebring All-Stars. Gomez and Lewis made it a 10-run lead with back-to-back two-run doubles. Terry also hopped on the hitting carousel, knocking in two more runs, as did Bickman with a double of his own into left field. By the end of the fifth inning Sebring had Bartow in a 17-2 hole that was just far too big to climb out of.

"We came out a bit nervous," said Sebring head coach Cesar Martinez. "They were kind of chomping at the bit and not being very patient at the plate, but eventually they all settled down; and a lot of times if you can get the momentum going you can just let things roll.

"We're glad to get a win, but we've got to come back tomorrow and keep playing well. We've got a good bunch of boys who understand one game doesn't get it done and that it's going to take a total team effort to win this thing."