Let's talk some baseball

The game-time temperature is about 85 degrees at Hernando high. There are blue skies and cumulus clouds hanging over head. The grass is green, and 20 or so players are stretching out on top of it in center field. I smell french fries and hot dogs.

The theme from Top Gun is playing.

Isn't baseball great?

Let's play manager. . .

You have three games to win a district title. When do you pitch your ace? Up here at the Class 4A, District 8 tournament, Zephyrhills decided to throw Florida State signee Geoff Parker against Springstead in the first round, rather than saving him for a tough semi-final match-up against Nature Coast. Nature Coast did like wise, throwing ace Bryan Daniels against South Sumter in the first round.

It paid off for the Sharks -- Travis Murray pitched a complete game and also had four RBIs as Nature Coast beat ZHills 7-3 to advance to the 4A-8 title game against either Pasco or Hernando.

Zephyrhills starter Austin Adams was pulled in the first inning after walking three and allowing two runs, one of which came on a balk.