By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Gateway’s attempt to win the 6A District 6 baseball tournament from the No. 4 seed was derailed on Tuesday.

The Panthers, the Orange Belt Conference champions, lost 7-4 to top-seeded St. Lucie West Centennial. Eagles pitcher Ryan Fetzner struck out 12 to handcuff Coach Rob Hammond’s team.

“We ran into a good pitcher,” he said. “We only trailed 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth and the wheels fell off. We scored three in the seventh to at least make it respectable.”

Lio Morales had a home run.

Gateway (18-9) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinal with a 7-1 win over Palm Bay Bayside in Monday’s quarterfinal game. Manny Rivera struck out five in a five-hitter on the mound, and E.J. Devarie and Randy Batista each rapped out four hits.

In a first-round game of the 5A District 5 tournament at Sebring, Liberty held on for a 3-2 win over Osceola. Junior Oscar Galagarza scored in the top of the seventh inning on a wild pitch to take the lead.

Johnny Maslanka, pitching in relief of Brent Rhodes, who gave the Chargers six strong innings, pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh to give Liberty (9-14), who beat Osceola (14-11) in the same setting last year, a spot in Wednesday’s semifinal against No. 1 seed Winter Haven.

In the 4A-6 tournament on Tuesday, C.J. Anderson and Alessio Pena each homered for host St. Cloud as the Bulldogs beat Celebration, 8-3. Anderson collected three hits.

St. Cloud played top-seeded Eustis, and Harmony played Tavares, in 4A-6 semifinals on Wednesday for spots in the regional playoffs.

In flag football, Dr. Phillips and Harmony were scheduled to face off Wednesday for the District 8 title for the fifth straight season.

The two got there by winning their semifinal games on Tuesday. Dr. Phillips (12-1) downed Osceola, 13-6. Brooke Hancock had a touchdown pass and Maria Lopez had an interception for the Kowgirls. Harmony (10-0) beat Gateway, 20-7, as Kaylee Horn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.