Indians split with Sentinel; Pirates clinch Panhandle title

By Dustin Kent

Published: April 18, 2008

After taking an 11-1 win Friday at Chipola Field, the Chipola Indians dropped the series finale to North Florida 12-11 Saturday in Madison.

A 10-0 win by Pensacola over Okaloosa-Walton Saturday Pirates clinched the Panhandle Conference title for the Pirates.

The Indians had already clinched second place and a berth in the state tournament, which begins May 9 in Winter Haven.

North Florida, which is closing down its athletic program after this season, got two runs in the bottom of the ninth Saturday for the win.

The Sentinels loaded the bases with a single and two walks, then tied the game on an RBI single and won on a passed ball by Chipola reliever Jason Townsend.

Chipola coach Jeff Johnson said he wasn’t that bothered by the loss, which had no particular importance after PJC’s victory, and happy that the North Florida players got a win in the school’s last game.

“If we had to lose a game, you don’t mind losing to a team that’s losing its program,” the coach said. “We feel for those guys, but it’s a good way to go out for them.

“We knew the game today was kind of meaningless. We had a chance to win, but it just didn’t work out.”

David Travis took the loss for the Indians.

Moises Montero, Adam Duvall and Marc Bourgeois all hit two-run home runs for the Indians.

“I told the kids I was proud of the way we have played the last few weeks and proud of the strides we’ve made,” Johnson said. “I told the guys to spend the next two and a half weeks getting prepared to go down (to Lakeland for the state tournament) and win this thing.

“We’ve got as good a chance as anyone. It’s just a matter of who plays together the best. The kids are feeling good about themselves. We have a good opportunity in front of us.”

On Friday, it was Edmond Sparks’ two home runs and five RBI that led the Indians to the win, which was the sixth straight win for the Indians.

Sparks hit a two-run home run in a five-run first inning for Chipola, then added a three-run shot in the decisive fifth inning.

Carlos Moncrief started and pitched three innings for the win, giving up a run on one hit with three strikeouts and four walks.

Ben Jeffers pitched two scoreless innings in relief, striking out and two and allowing only one base runner on a hit batter.

Bourgeois got the Indians on the board first with an RBI single to right field to score Einar Atencio in the first inning.

Montero’s RBI double down the third base line brought Bourgeois to the plate for a 3-0 lead, setting up Sparks’ first homer, a towering shot to right center off of a high fastball from North Florida reliever Anthony Green.

Duvall doubled to left to bring Jordan Lucas home for the sixth Indians run of the game and Sparks’ second homer made it a 9-1 game.

After Duvall and Brett Maxwell reached on a walk and a double, Tyler Bumgarner hit a ground ball to the North Florida shortstop, who threw it wide of his first baseman, allowing both runners to score.