WESLEY CHAPEL – There’s an old baseball adage that championship teams are strong up the middle. In the case of Spring Hill American’s run to the title in the Dixie Baseball “O”Zone (age 11-12) All-Stars District 6 Tournament last week at Wesley Chapel District Park, that proved true. As their team defeated friendly foe Spring Hill National in Thursday’s final, 17-3, second baseman Chase Davis and shortstop Zeth Rodriguez were a combined 5-for-5 with three walks, three home runs, six runs scored and eight runs batted in.
Not a bad night’s work for the pair that also serves as the team’s first two batters in the lineup. “They’re definitely leaders on the team,” SH American head coach Tom LoBianco said. “They’ve been here before. They’ve had the experience, and their great leaders for the team to show these other kids how to play with intensity. They’re athletes and they have great chemistry. They’ve played together before, and they can trust one another in the middle” explained LoBianco.
SH American went 3-0 in the four-team, double-elimination tournament and will look to defend its state crown from 2014 at this year’s state tournament starting July 18 in Franklin County.
Both Davis, 13, and Rodriguez, 12, were a part of the previous year’s squad that finished as the World Series runner-up.
According to LoBianco, they’re at the top of the order for their speed. But in the championship tilt, it was their power on display. Davis had singled to start the game, but was thrown out trying to steal second. The next inning, he blasted a solo homer well over the fence in center field. The right-hander went the other way for a two-run shot to right in the fourth, and later in the frame blooped a two-run single to shallow right. He ended up 4-for-4 with the two home runs, three runs and five RBI.
“I would just practice a lot and I have those guns behind me (in the lineup) to help me,” Davis said. Rodriguez didn’t have much chance to do damage his first four trips to the plate, walking each time. Finally in his second at-bat of the fourth inning, he smacked a three-run homer to left field, capping a 10-run outburst by SH American. “When I hit the home run it felt a little better because I got a pitch to hit,” Rodriguez said.
It was the continuation of an outstanding tournament for both players. Davis was an eye-popping 10-for-11 with a walk over the three games, scoring 10 times and driving in nine runs behind a double and three home runs, plus he stole four bases. Meanwhile, Rodriguez ended up 5-of-7, walking five times. He had seven runs scored, five RBI, two doubles, three homers and two steals. Additionally, he tossed four one-hit innings, striking out nine and walking none while shutting out SH National in a mercy-rule shortened 11-0 win in the opening round.
Defensively, they’ve grown accustomed to playing with one another in the infield. “We’ve been together for quite a few years, so we just keep on talking,” Davis said. “We have good communication and we do our stuff.” “We communicate to each other,” Rodriguez said. “We know who’s covering bags, who’s not.” They’ll have an opportunity, along with their teammates, to build on their success at states, and they hope it doesn’t stop there. “We’re looking forward to see all the good teams and see the competition,” Davis said. Rodriguez forecasts, “I think we’ll make it to the World Series.”