Blue Streaks down Devils

Sebring overcame a rash of early errors and designated hitter Jesse Baker slammed a two-run homer to lead the Blue Streaks to an 8-2 win over county rival Avon Park on Friday night at Firemen's Field.

The non-district win improved Class 5A Sebring to 12-4 on the season.

"Thank goodness Avon Park didn't get a hit when they needed one in a couple of innings," said veteran Blue Streak coach Hoppy Rewis. "Avon Park had the bases loaded a couple of times and we were fortunate to only give up one run.

"We're playing better as a team because our pitchers are throwing more strikes and we're doing a good job of swinging the bats."

The loss dropped Class 3A Avon Park to 6-5 on the season.

"I'm proud of the guys for their effort and there were a couple of close plays that didn't go our way that could have changed the complexion of the game," said first-year Red Devil coach Whit Cornell.

"We swung the bats and hit the ball hard, but a few were right at somebody and there's nothing we can do about that."

Avon Park loaded the bases in the top of the second inning and tallied a run as left fielder Matt Roberts' fielder's choice ground out plated Drew Reeves to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead.

Avon Park kept the pressure on in the top of the third inning as Reeves lined a one-out RBI double to left field to put the Red Devils up 2-0.

A walk loaded the bases, but Chavis wiggled his way out of the jam without further damage to keep the score at 2-0.

"I'm not used to our defense making miscues," said Chavis. "They usually play great behind me and once we got settled in we were fine.

"Our team is jelling and it's always good to beat Avon Park, especially for the seniors because this was our last game against them at Firemen's Field."

Sebring answered in the bottom of the frame as Seth Abeln reached on a walk off of Avon Park left-hander Dylan Heiring and scored on a double down the right-field line by Cody Hoffner.

Hoffner scored on a base hit to tie the game at 2.

Sebring flexed its offensive muscles in the bottom of the fourth inning.

First baseman Corbin Hoffner was hit by a Heiring pitch, catcher Riley McKenna walked and second baseman Matt Randall singled to left field to plate Hoffner.

McKenna and Randall alertly moved into scoring position when the throw went to the plate.

Abeln's ground ball was bobbled for an error and allowed McKenna to cross home plate.

Cody Hoffner plated Randall with a sacrifice fly and Baker, who leads the team in home runs, capped the inning with a mammoth, two-run blast over the center field wall to cap the uprising to give the Blue Streaks a commanding 7-2 lead.

"Jesse is a big strong kid," said Rewis. "He's been a power hitter his entire life and that's what he does.

"He's done a much better job of not striking out as much this year and he's also a very good catcher."

Chavis settled in and kept the Avon Park hitters off balance with an assortment of fastballs and curveballs and earned the win by scattering six hits in his six innings of work.

Sebring tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Blue Streaks brought in Dylan Sanders in the top of the seventh inning and the hard-throwing right-hander allowed a single to Ty Jackson, but settled down to retire the side to secure the hard-fought win.

"We're getting better pitching and hitting," said Rewis. "The boys are working hard and we just need to stay focused and keep making the plays we're supposed to make and we'll be fine."

Sebring is at Haines City on Monday, at Winter Haven on Tuesday and the Blue Streaks are at Osceola on Friday.

"All of those games are district games and are important," Rewis said. "The team that wins some district games on the road is going to be the team to beat in our district."

Avon Park is at Class 3A-District 10 rival McKeel Academy on Tuesday and the Red Devils host district rival Fort Meade on Friday at Charles R. Head Field.

"We have improved a great deal from the start of the season," said Cornell. "We're swinging the bats well and we just need to make the routine plays in the field.

"We are in a tough district, but the guys are playing hard and we're getting better with every game we play."