Notes from the North Suncoast: Baseball

Despite a six-game win streak, it might be inaccurate to say the Hernando Leopards are peaking at the right time.

Pummeling is more like it.

Coach Donnie Whitehead's club (11-6), set to play at Zephyrhills on Thursday night, has scored 51 runs (8.5 per game) during its recent spurt, which included a 2-0 triumph Wednesday against Class 5A Ridgewood.

“It’s typical high school baseball, Jekyll-and-Hyde," said Whitehead, whose club had a four-game win streak earlier in the year, only to drop three of its next four.

"As the weather warms up the bats have started to heat up a little bit. It’s fun to go to the ballpark right now."

Seniors George Fribley (.349) and Andrew McNeal (3 HR, .500 slg) continue to pace the offense, but pitching carried Hernando in the early part of this daunting week, which includes four games in as many nights.

Senior right-hander Casey Adams tossed a three-hitter in Tuesday's 12-2 rout of Central, while senior Kenny Noble and junior Clayton Neff combined to beat Ridgewood the next night. Those efforts saved ace Morgan Rogers (4-0, 2.00 ERA) for Thursday's game at Zephyrhills.

“We spot started (Adams) early in the year against Citrus and he had a rough outing (an 8-7 loss)," Whitehead said. "But has been throwing in relief for us lately and throwing a lot better."

Schuster shines: Mitchell left-hander Patrick Schuster did something Wednesday no other local club has done this year -- completely neutralize Pasco's potent batting order.

Schuster fanned nine Pirates in a two-hit, 3-0 victory. The 6-foot-2 junior faced 28 batters, seven more than the minimum. Two Pirates reached on an error, and another was hit by a pitch.

For the year, Schuster is 4-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings.

Touching 'em all: Zephyrhills' 12-2 loss at home last Friday to Land O'Lakes might have been a total wash had it not been for the encouraging 2008 starting debut of Bulldogs right-hander Austin Adams. Sidelined from pitching most of the season with an upper-forearm problem, the USF commitment struck out eight, walked four and allowed no earned runs in three innings. Don't be shocked if Adams gets the ball this Friday against Pasco. ... Pasco leadoff hitter Dylan Giella has reached base safely in all 15 games in which he has played.