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byline By ADAM ADKINS[byline]
byline The Tampa Tribune
Riverview’s victory over Durant on Wednesday did two things.
First, it gave the Sharks a season split with their Class 6A-District 8 foe. Second, and maybe most importantly, it kept the Sharks’ on a roll with their sixth win in the last seven games, the type of stretch Coach Bill Leiby knew his team was capable of going on when the season first began.
“We knew we had the capability,” said Leiby, whose team dropped three of its first four to open the season. “It was just showing up everyday.”
Lieby points to a 2-0 win at perennial power Sarasota on Feb. 23 as the turning point, when junior Anthony Ferrara and senior Juan Carlin combined on a four-hit shutout. That game started a streak of five consecutive wins, mostly fueled by great pitching.
Riverview’s staff has yielded only six runs in the last seven games, with three of those ending in shutouts. In addition to the Sarasota win, senior Kyle Eastham tossed a two-hit shutout against East Bay (five innings) on March 6, while Ferrara tossed a three-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts against Lakeland three days later.
Also, the Sharks finally are swinging in the bats, led by Carlin (.394 average), who extended his hitting streak to seven games against Durant with a first-inning single. However, Leiby thinks there’s still room for improvement.
“I don’t think we’re there yet. I’ve seen us play better ball over the summer and I’ve seen us play very well together, and I still think we’ve got a little bit left to work on,” Leiby said.
A NICE SURPRISE: It’s hard to imagine a 6-4 start being a great one. Then again, when you’re Durant coach Ron Fussell and you’ve got only two returning starters and neither are pitchers, a winning record through 10 games is something to be smile about.
“These guys have played well,” Fussell said. “To be 6-2 in the [district] that we play in with teams like Riverview and Sarasota, we’re not going to hang our heads.”
Several new names have jumped right into vacant roles to help the Cougars roll. Senior OF Steve Bridwell (team-best .348 average) and junior OF Taed Moses (.345) have done well offensively, while RHP Josh Teplitzky has done his best to help fill the void on the mound.
Teplitzky was 3-1 wit a 1.06 ERA entering Wednesday’s game against Riverview, when he gave up five runs through five-plus innings in the loss. However, Fussell has been impressed with his senior hurler so far.
“He’s just a tough kid. He competes, he throws strikes …and the starts that he’s had have all been quality starts and he’s kept us in some ball games,” Fussell said.
ON A ROLL: Seffner Christian might be one of the little guys, but the Crusaders have been hot lately, winners of five straight heading into Thursday’s game against Lakeland Sonrise Christian. Junior Ben #####, sophomore Taylor Leggatt and freshman Derek Self have played a big part in the turnaround, first-year Coach Jim Self said.
##### not only made the switch from third to catcher to help the team, but he’s also swung a good bat and currently is second on the team in hitting (.320 average) and RBIs (seven). Leggatt has struggled at times at the plate, but he’s done well on the mound. He won his second consecutive start Tuesday against Tampa Baptist, striking out six in a complete-game.
Meanwhile, Self, the coach’s son, has done it all, leading the team in hitting (.333, 11 RBIs) while also posting a team-best 3.06 ERA and team-high 21 strikeouts.
TOUGH STRETCH: The last two weeks have been tough on King coach Jim Macaluso, who’s watched his team drop five straight by a combined nine runs, three of them one-run ball games. Even more troubling is it’s been the same formula for disappointment.
“We’ve been in the games, but we just haven’t been able to get that one hit,” said Macaluso, whose club is hitting .206 this season.
Sean Buckley (.318) is the only King hitter with an average better than .300. Buckley also leads the team with seven RBIs.
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Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.[Footer]