Anthony Salveggi, Times Correspondent
Friday, March 25, 2011
SEMINOLE — Turnabout, the saying goes, is fair play.
A little more than two weeks after a wild pitch put Seminole on the short end of a 1-0 loss to Dunedin, the Warhawks used some timely hustle to best the Falcons 1-0 Friday night.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Giovanni Sardo beat out the first baseman's throw to the pitcher, allowing Jordan Doyle to score the game's only run.
The Falcons (10-2) put the tying run in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but Joey Krehbiel stopped the threat when he got Michael Tipton to pop out to the infield then struck out Andrew Brodbeck for the game's final out.
Dunedin was held to two hits by Krehbiel, who also pitched in the previous matchup between the teams.
Falcons pitcher Colyn O'Connell nearly matched Krehbiel's effort. He worked out of bases-loaded situations in the third and fourth innings then cruised in the fifth, putting the Warhawks (11-2) down in order.
Michael Mann led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. He then reached third after Doyle was safe at first on a bunt that O'Connell couldn't get to the first baseman. Scott Withrow followed with a chopper to third, forcing out Mann. Casey Jennings walked to load the bases, and Adam Atkinson hit to the second baseman, who turned the force at home.
Sardo, who had struck out looking to end the fourth, then redeemed himself with his hustle to first base.
Ben Emery led off the top of the seventh with a single, putting the potential tying run on base. Alex Libby bunted him over to second. Tipton's pop fly was the second out, bringing Brodbeck to the plate as the Falcons' last chance.
"Dunedin is one of the best teams in the state," Warhawks coach Greg Olsen said.
He also praised his starting pitcher: "To watch Joey compete the way he did, I can't put it into words. He's a special kid."