Longhorns host Braden River April 9 in fight for top spot in District 9

By STEVE JACKSON

When you own good pitching, hard hitting, consistent defense, and speed on the base paths, you should win most games. That’s exactly the formula being used by coach Kennedy Duran’s Longhorns as they extended their mid-season winning skein to five games last week. Lennard ran its record to 5-0 (District 9) and 11-2 overall.

Firmly ensconced in first place in District 9, the Longhorns hope to continue their recipe this week and beyond with games against rival Riverview at the Boyette Road school after press time April 9, followed by what promises to be one of the biggest games of the season at home on April 11 at 7 p.m. against Braden River, the last two years’ champion of District 9 and presently in second place. A rare Saturday morning game at home on April 13 at 10 a.m. with Strawberry Crest then wraps up the week.

The Longhorns wore out the horsehide and the Tampa Bay Tech Titans in Tampa March 26 by a score of 12-2. At the plate, Lennard banged out 9 hits and collected 9 free passes. Once on base, Lennard went wild, stealing base after base after base until they garnered 12 stolen bases for the game, adding insult to injury for the Titans. Anthony Fereira nabbed 5 bases and Seth Gingrich swiped 4 to lead the way in larceny for Lennard. Adrian Muñoz, Deuce Waller and Max Goodnight all slid successfully for one. The beneficiary of this offensive outburst was Edward Tarrant, who fanned 13 and only walked one as his teammates played errorless ball behind him. Tarrant, Gingrich and Hayden Hensley each had 2 RBIs apiece.

The competition was a bit stiffer but the results were the same on April 4 against the Armwood Hawks in Seffner. The Longhorns overcame an early 1-0 lead by the Hawks to take a 4-1 district victory.