2009 All-Star Update – Sectionals

Kevin Epifanio’s 9-10 Softball team took runner-up honors behind District 13 Bloomingdale at the Section tourney last weekend despite beating Bloomingdale 2-1 earlier in the day.  They fought back from a 14-5 deficit following a rain delay, scoring 8 runs in the sixth inning, against Lake Wales but fell short 14-13.  They took a 21-1 victory over North River in four innings in the first game of the tournament.  In spite of outscoring their opponents 36-15, when the run differential was calculated they came in number two.  These kids had a great run through the all-stars and promise great things for LOLLL in the future.

Mike Hebert’s Junior baseball took runner-up honors this weekend in the Section 4 tournament.  More details to come as they are provided.

Major baseball did not win the Section 4 tournament in spite of a basket full of homeruns by KJ Bierly. More details to come as they are provided.

We had three Section 4 Champions!!!!!

Tim Henderson’s 11 year old Baseball team won the Section 4 tournament Saturday and will be representing Land O’ Lakes Little League/District 25/Section 4 at the state tournament next weekend.  This is the second trip to states in as many years for this team. Congratulations and good luck, boys!

Kenny Cochran’s Junior Softball team took the Section 4 Championship last weekend and represented Land O’ Lakes Little League/District 25/Section 4 in the State tourney this weekend where they played into the semi-final round today before falling to South Tampa, a conglomeration of Palma Ceia/Interbay/Tampa Bay junior softball.  They are one of the top four junior softball teams in the state of Florida.  Way to go girls!

Shamaine Douglas and her 11 year old Softball team are playing in the State Championship game tomorrow morning at 10am at Windemere Little League.  This team has sailed through the sectional and state tournaments winning all but one game by 10 runs or more.  They face Windemere Little League, a team they beat Saturday 5-4.  If any of you can make it to the game, please do, otherwise keep Shamaine and the girls in your thoughts as they play for Land O’ Lakes Little League’s first every State Championship in softball.

2009 All-Stars Majors Baseball Captures District 25 Title

7/9 vs New Tampa

LOL 13 – New Tampa 0

WOW!!!  The LOL Major All-Stars finished off an incredible week of baseball capturing the 2009 Florida Little League District 25 Championship with a 13-0 win over the New Tampa Major All-Stars.   For the second straight night the LOL All-stars turned in another dominate hitting and pitching performance securing the victory.

The All-Stars jumped on the New Tampa team right off the bat, spurred by KJ Bierly’s towering homerun, they plated 3 runs in the top of the first.   The All-Stars increased the lead to 7-0 in the second inning led again by Bierly, who hit his second home run in as many innings, this one a 3 run shot.  Pitcher Alex Anderson turned in a great pitching performance himself, holding the New Tampa team to two hits for the game while striking out 5 in 4 innings of work.

The All-Stars closed out the win by plating 5 runs in the fourth inning, with a John Gyermeli monster homerun, that landed into a New Tampa backyard, and an RBI single by Sean Cunius.  After the last out of the game was recorded, on foul-tip strikeout caught by Chris Dorr, the LOL All-Stars all rushed out onto the field to congratulate each other with the realization that they were off to the sectionals.

The Major All-Stars and the coaches would like to thank the parents, the LOL Junior Baseball All-Stars, and the other LOL fans that came out to cheer us on to victory.

Next stop for the LOL Major All-Stars is the Florida Section 4 Tournament being held at the Manatee East Little League (Lakewood Ranch Blvd) on 24-25 Jul 2009.

2009 All-Stars Majors Baseball Update #4

7/8/09 vs New Tampa

LOL 12 – New Tampa 3

The Land O Lakes Major All-Stars followed up on their dramatic come from behind win over Temple Terrace with a solid offensive and defensive effort in a 12-3 victory over New Tampa. Coach ‘Jim’ lost his first coin flip and LOL was visitors for the time in the tournament. That was no problem though; the All-Stars used that to their advantage and jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Colton King and KJ Bierly led the game off with consecutive hits and LOL never looked back.

The All-Stars increased the lead to 4-0 in the top of the second and that was all the run support pitcher Brett Renner needed. Brett was outstanding all night keeping the solid New Tampa batters off balance throughout the game. Renner allowed only 3 hits, walked 2, while striking out 6 batters (all swinging) in his 68 pitch complete game performance. He was helped in the field with solid defensive efforts by Alex Burnham at 3B and Alex Anderson in the outfield.

Later in the game Bierly hit a towering homerun to centerfield to help increase the LOL All-Stars lead.

Overall, it was the most complete game the LOL Major All-Stars have played so far in the tournament. With the win they have earned the right to face the New Tampa team one more time in the “if necessary” game; with the winner being crowned the Florida Little League District 25 champions. The game is set for 7pm tonight (7/9) at the New Tampa Little League Complex; weather permitting.

2009 All-Stars Majors Update #3

Tuesday 7/7 vs Temple Terrace

LOL 11 – Temple Terrace 10

The LOL Major All Stars won last night in dramatic fashion over the Temple Terrace All Star team by scoring 5 runs with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win 11-10. Colton King capped off the 5 run outburst and fantastic win with a two run single to left field. LOL took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on run scoring grounders by Alex Anderson and Justin Jungbauer.

The Temple Terrace team responded by scoring 7 runs in the top of the third inning to take a 7-2 lead. With Temple Terrance still batting in the third, leading 7-2 and having the bases loaded with 1 out, Sean Cunius came into the game and promptly struck out the next two batters to keep the score the same. Cunius was dominate over the next two innings; striking out 4 and not allowing a hit keeping the LOL team within striking distance for a comeback.

The comeback started in the bottom of the fifth where LOL scored 4 times to make the score 7-6. Connor Stephens led the comeback with a 3 run blast to the opposite field and Kyle Bierly hit a towering solo shot two batters later capping off the 4 run inning. Temple Terrace proceeded to score 3 runs of their on in the top of the sixth to make the score 10-6 setting up the dramatic finish to the game.

The LOL players refused to give up, having 7 straight batters reach base through walks and hits, scoring the 5 runs for the exhilarating win.

Next up for the LOL Major All-Star is a game against the New Tampa All-stars in the District 25 championship game tonight (7/8) at the New Tampa Little League complex.

2009 All-Stars Majors Update #2

LOL 1 – New Tampa 12

After a full week of rain delays and holiday breaks, the District 25 Major tournament resumed in New Tampa last night.  The LOL Major All-Stars suffered their first loss in the District 25 tournament against the New Tampa team by a score of 12 to 1.  Timely hitting and defense by the New Tampa team in addition to costly defensive lapses by the LOL team was the theme of the game.  Ben Moultrie knocked in the lone LOL run and had a solid defensive effort in the field for the LOL team.  With this game behind them, the All-Stars are looking to rebound against the Temple Terrace All-star team tonight (7/7) in New Tampa, with the winner facing New Tampa for the District championship.

2009 All-Stars Majors Update

2009 All-Stars Majors Update

Saturday 6/27 vs Zephyrhills

LOL 12 – Zephyrhills 2

Brett Renner was stellar, pitching a 1 hitter leading the way to a 12-2 victory over Zephyrhills. The LOL All-Stars pounded out 11 hits led by Alex Anderson’s 3 for 3 and 4 RBI effort. Colton King hit a leadoff homerun to left center field in LOL’s half of the first inning. Chris Dorr also homered for the All-Star’s later in the game. With LOL leading 11-2 in the bottom of the fourth and a runner on second, play was halted due to weather. Four hours later, including a move to Lutz Little League fields, play was resumed. On the second pitch of the resumed game, Tom Gugliemello raced home from second base on a grounder hit by Renner and slid under the tag ending the ball game. Overall it was a good, solid win for the LOL Major All-Stars in the opener of the District 25 All-Star Tournament.

Sunday 6/28 vs Temple Terrace

LOL 12 – Temple Terrace 6

The LOL Major All-Stars earned a hard fought 12-6 victory over the Temple Terrace All-Star at New Tampa on Sunday. KJ Bierly led the offense going 3 for 4 and a game breaking three run homer in the fifth inning. The LOL team fell behind 4-0 in the third inning, but quickly erased the deficit by scoring 5 runs in their half of the inning. The key hit in the inning was a two run double by Alex Burnham. Temple Terrace promptly took the lead on a two run blast in the next inning. Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth, the LOL All Stars erupted for 7 runs. John Gyermeli hit a solo home run to tie the game and Sean Cunius following a few batters later with a run scoring single giving LOL the lead for good. Dylan Leonard’s key hit double gave the All-Stars a 9-6 lead, with Bierly’s 3 run blast closing out the scoring for the LOL team. Leonard pitched a scoreless sixth inning to close the game out. Next up for the LOL All-Stars is a game Tuesday night (Jun 30), at 7pm, against the New Tampa All-Star team, at the New Tampa Little League complex.