Miller gets state semifinal nod

Cambridge baseball coach Rick Shears says he keeps a folder in his desk drawer of "boo-boos." And as the Lancers prepare for their Class 1A state semifinal game Monday in Sarasota, he's not about to duplicate past mistakes.

So Shears won't be saving his best pitcher Monday. Shears said Thursday that he will start ace Michael Miller against Deltona Trinity Christian. Miller, a senior, is 10-1 with a 0.99 ERA in 14 appearances this season. He has won four straight start, including three in the region tournament. Miller threw a complete-game three-hit shutout in the region semifinal against Seffner Christian and tossed another complete-game four-hitter in Lancers' region final sweep of Bradenton Christian.

"I've looked through that list of boo-boos and one of them says, 'Worry about tomorrow tomorrow,'" Shears said. "We're going to go with our ace. We're not going to have innings saved over the summer to say, 'What if?' We're going to go with our best."

Shears said all of his pitchers would be avaiable Monday, but if Cambridge wins the state semi, that would leave sophomore Matt Fishman as the likely title game starter against the winner between Jacksonville Eagle's View and Miami Brito Private in the state championship game.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Comments

[coach santoni]

Congratulations to Coach Shears and the whole Cambridge community. No matter the outcome well done be proud of your accomplishments and as far as coach Shears who I have know since our boys were 9-10 years old. This couldn't happen to a better coach a true gentleman.