Two big innings power OHS, 9-3

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Two big innings power OHS, 9-3

Sports

Thursday, 25 March 2010 00:07

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer
Much like the recent weather, the Osceola High baseball team has warmed up heading into midseason.
The Kowboys’ five-run third and three-run seventh innings paced Coach Nick James’ team Tuesday to a 9-3 win over Liberty at Charger Field.
The win adds OHS, now 9-3 overall, to a logjam at 5-2 in the 5A District 5 standings that, according to James, won’t be settled until the end of the season and a district tournament that will be as big a mess as this year’s NCAA basketball tournament.
“One through seven, these teams are all strong,” he said. “Even Ridge is at the bottom but they have a great arm on the mound.”
The Chargers (8-5, 3-4 in 5A-5) actually struck first, getting RBI hits from Johnny Maslanka in the first inning and Landin Diaz and Patrick Hernandez in the second for a 3-0 lead.
Osceola broke it open in the top of the third after Edwin Bonilla led off with a triple to right field and Dylan Dillard followed with a home run to left. The next six Kowboys reached base and three scored, including Peter Calilao on a double steal.
“We got off to a slow start but I love my kids’ resilience,” James said. “Liberty’s got a solid club but we use all 27 of our outs if we have to.”
Osceola added late insurance runs on on Bonilla’s RBI single and Edwin Rios’ two-run double in the seventh. Bonilla, Dillard, Rios, Alexis Rivera, Henry Melendez and Christian Maysonet each had two hits in the 15-hit attack.
On the mound, Drew Heifer (2-0) came on for Jean Maldonado in the third and threw five innings of three-hit relief for the win.
Osceola also leads the Orange Belt Conference standings (2-0), followed by Liberty (3-1), St. Cloud (2-1) and Harmony (1-2).
The Kowboys have won five in a row and host Sebring Friday at 7 for a district game. p.m. The Chargers will try to rebound, hosting Ridge at 7.
In a 4A-6 game Tuesday, St. Cloud beat Celebration, 15-1 Alessia Pena had four RBI. The Bulldogs (3-5) host St. Alban’s (D.C.) Saturday at 1 p.m.
Harmony downed Oak Ridge, 8-1, in a 4A-6 game Tuesday. Tyler Whitney collected three hits and Austin Paros pitched a complete game with six strikeouts. The Longhorns (6-5) also will play St. Albans Saturday, at Longhorn Field at 7 p.m.
Gateway (6-7) dropped a 10-2 decision to Eustis Tuesday. The Panthers host Port St. Lucie Centennial at 4:30 p.m. in a 6A District 6 clash on Friday.