By Dustin Kent

Published: May 9, 2008

The Chipola Indians stayed undefeated at the FCCAA state tournament Saturday, using a four-run eighth inning to rally for an 8-7 win over St. Petersburg in 10 innings.

Daniel Jones’ walk-off hit off of Titans reliever Jeffrey Walters scored Marc Bourgeois to end the game.

“I’ve complained all year about us not playing hard, not having chemistry and all that,” Chipola coach Jeff Johnson said after the game, “but tonight I can’t say enough for them.

“We made all kinds of mistakes early on, but we fought hard and came back. I couldn’t be prouder. We showed a lot of will, heart and determination.”

Chipola moved to 2-0 in the tournament, having taken an 11-3 win over Seminole Friday, and will play again Sunday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Saturday night’s late game between Manatee and Pensacola.

The Indians trailed 5-2 in the sixth inning after a three-run home run by St. Petersburg’s Alfred Croquer.

Adam Duvall homered for Chipola in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it 5-3, but the Indians wasted a bases-loaded with no one out opportunity to end the inning with only the one run.

St. Petersburg answered back with a two-run shot by Darryl Leonard, his second of the day, to make it a 7-3 advantage for the Titans.

In the bottom of the eighth, Carlos Moncrief was retired for the first out and Jordon Lucas stuck out after a Moises Montero double, leaving just one Chipola runner with two out.

But the Indians rallied with an RBI single by Duvall, a two-run single by Jones and an RBI single by Einar Atencio to tie the game.

Each hit came with two outs.

“We like to say that two-out hits win championships,” Johnson said. “That was just an outstanding job. It was a great thing to see that happen. A lot of guys showed a lot of heart and character tonight. I couldn’t be any more pleased.”

Chipola reliever Ben Jeffers got the win in relief, pitching the final 1 2/3 innings and allowing no runs.

Jeffers allowed the Titans to load the bases in the ninth inning with just one out, but worked out of the jam by inducing a pop out by Chase Larsson, then striking out Darryl Leonard to end the inning.

St. Petersburg then put runners on the corners with none out in the 10th off of Jeffers, but again couldn’t capitalize.

Justin Figueroa grounded out to third base, then John Rigg was thrown out at home after a ground ball by Stephen Lombardozzi for the second out.

Justin Dalles popped out to shallow right field to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 10th, it was Bourgeois who came up with a one-out double to set up Jones’ game-winning hit.

“I told the team before we came down here that we would have to win a game where it looks bad to win this tournament,” Johnson said. “I we hope won’t have to do that again.”

If Chipola wins Sunday night, the Indians will be guaranteed a spot in the state title game Tuesday.

The Indians will play Monday regardless, but the outcome of Sunday’s game will determine if they’ll be playing for their playoff lives or playing for a chance to enter Tuesday’s championship round having to be beaten twice to be eliminated.

“We’ve got ourselves in position now,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to forget about this one and get ready for tomorrow.”