By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Liberty snapped a two-game losing streak in a big way Wednesday, 10-1, in an Orange Belt Conference game against Harmony.

The Chargers had scored only one run during prior 3-0 and 11-1 losses against Osceola and Bishop Moore.

The win boosted the Chargers to 5-5 and 4-2 in the conference. Harmony slipped to 7-2 and 2-1 in the conference.

Liberty’s Tim Tapia threw four innings, gave up two hits and struck out four to earn the win. Luis Rivera pitched three innings of relief.

“Our bats finally woke up. We made some lineup changes and they worked out,” Coach Nick Philpot said. “I hope the hits keep coming and the pitchers keep doing what they’re doing.”

The Chargers pitching staff gave up only one hit in the loss at OHS last week.

Senior Joseph Nunez moved to right field Wednesday for the first time and seemed to like it. He went 2-for-2 and walked.

“We’re seeing some good things from out seniors and our young ones. If we keep this up, we’ll be making some noise,” Philpot said.

Liberty is in the thick of the 7A District 5 race with Gateway, East Ridge and Osceola. Liberty is the only team so far to beat Gateway in the district, 5-2, two weeks ago.

Harmony Coach Mike Fields was predictably unhappy with his team’s effort Wednesday.

“The kids think they are world beaters after starting out 6-0. We have not done much since then,” Fields said. “Liberty does have some athletes and deserved the win. They beat Gateway, and Gateway is pretty darned good.”

The Longhorns couldn’t make much from nine hits at Liberty, and committed three errors.

“We did not play well,” Fields said.

The Longhorns beat Orlando Christian Prep Tuesday, 6-3, in six innings after a power outage shortened the game.

It was the second straight game the Longhorns couldn’t complete.

The Horns game at St. Cloud March 9 was suspended by rain after four innings and will be completed March 27.

Harmony is back on the field Tuesday at Holy Trinity Academy and at Oak Ridge Friday in 7A District 6.

Fields warned that Oak Ridge will not be the pushover it has been in the past.

“They are a lot better than normal. They beat Lake Nona and have played a lot of teams tough,” he said. “We beat them 5-0 in the preseason, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Osceola, 6-5, played Lake Minneola Friday in a district game.

The Kowboys host their Spring Tournament Monday and Tuesday at Kowboys field. Seminole Ridge, Deltona and Royal Palm Beach will participate.

The Kowboys meet Seminole Ridge Monday at 11 a.m. and Deltona at 5 p.m. They play Royal Palm Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Gateway, 7-3 before Friday’s game against Poinciana, goes to the South Lake tournament and plays Leesburg Monday.

St. Cloud, 7-6, will host Marathon High today at noon at Chisholm Field.

The Bulldogs played Celebration Friday in a 7A-6 showdown.

The Storm will host Marathon Tuesday.