E-Harmony By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com Published: May 1, 2008
HARMONY – Harmony High made life easier for everyone in Class 4A, Region II, knocking off defending state champion Orlando-Bishop Moore Catholic in a district semifinal.
Now the giant-slayers have been slain.
Taking advantage of some defensive mistakes by the host Longhorns, Nature Coast Technical earned the first regional victory in its history Tuesday night, 5-3.
“This is big for our program,” Nature Coast Head Coach Bob Shepard said. “It's a step in the right direction to where we want to be.
“It was a hard-fought battle tonight. We were in a battle in every inning. You win enough innings, you'll win the game.”
Next up for the Sharks: a rematch in Friday's semifinals with Pasco High. The Pirates have defeated Nature Coast (21-6) three times this season, most recently in last Friday's 4A-8 championship game, 3-1.
Quick deficit
Nature Coast had to dig its way out an early hole, yielding two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Jorge Chavarria doubled to leadoff for Harmony (19-8), followed by a perfectly placed bunt single down the third-base line by Andrew Johnston.
When Colton Richards attempted a bunt of his own, Shark pitcher Travis Murray fielded the ball and alertly caught Chavarria in a rundown between third and home.
The senior Murray appeared primed to escape any damage after striking out Ryan Kiser, however opposing hurler Josh Phillips doubled to right field, plating both runners.
In the next inning, a three-run rally started when the shortstop airmailed first base on Murray's routine grounder.
Two batters later, Jack Diven hit a fly ball lost by the leftfielder, dropping in to put runners on the corners with one out.
Chris Jones drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly to right, preceding three straight singles by Eric Adams, Joe Silvestri and Danny Colon that pushed the Sharks in front.
“We knew they were going to come out and try to put the ball in play,” Shepard said. “We tried to keep our composure. We knew our bats had the potential to get those runs back and we did.”
Phillips tied the game at three in the third on a two-out single to center.
In the fifth, the first two runners reached on a walk and hit batter, yet Richards grounded to second baseman Kenny Treverton, who started a 4-6-3 double play.
Silvestri corralled a pop-up at third to end the inning, stranding Chavarria at third.
Brandon DeRespiris and Murray began the top of the sixth with base hits and moved up a base on Mike Adams' sacrifice.
That brought up Diven, a sophomore who collected his third hit on a single into center, bringing DeRespiris around for the go-ahead run.
“I'm just in awe,” Diven said. “It's like a dream come true for me.
“…I've been playing baseball for a long time. After a while you stop getting nervous. I stopped trying so hard. I've been swinging way too hard. All you have to do is make contact and good things happen.”
Jones tacked on a run with another RBI single into center, and Murray shutdown Harmony over the final two frames, working around a leadoff walk in the seventh.
Murray (7-3) allowed six hits in the complete-game triumph, walking one and striking out nine.
“It's the first time in the high school's history,” Murray said. “It feels good and it felt good being the pitcher to win it.
“It usually takes me some time to get warmed up. In the later innings my arm felt better. I started throwing harder. I knew we had it once we got the lead.”
“Travis, he pitched a great game,” Shepard said. “He got stronger as the game went on. Once the sixth inning came and we got the lead, he bore down and brought it home.”
Harmony Head Coach Mike Fields pointed to the miscues in the second as the difference in the game.
“We missed important opportunities,” Fields said. “Those three runs (in the second) were three unearned runs and they out-hit us. They deserved to win. I give all the credit to the Sharks.”
NATURE COAST 5, HARMONY 3
123 456 7 R H E
NCT 030 002 0 -- 5 11 0
HAR 201 000 0 -- 3 6 1
NCT – Murray and E. Adams.
HAR – Phillips, Girdner (6) and Richards.
W – Murray (7-3). L – Phillips (8-4).
2B – Murray (NCT); Chavarria, Phillips (HAR).
Records – Nature Coast (21-6), Harmony (19-8).
