FOSSIL PARK 9U WINS 2006 FLORIDA DIZZY DEAN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

By Phil Mugavero

St. Petersburg - July 10, 2006 - Leading up to Monday's state championship game, the Fossil Park coaching staff had heard all the catch phrases describing their opponent. Words like powerful, polished, even unbeatable were thrown around about the Tallahassee Heat 9 year old All-Star team. The Fossil Park players saw the numbers Tallahassee was putting up on the scoreboard. 16, 14, 11. Tallahassee had crushed every pitcher thrown at them the entire tournament and was ready for someone new to smack around. Fossil Park coaches knew they almost needed a miracle just to keep the game respectable. They found just the miracle they needed.....their catcher.

Zack Snell had been the starting catcher for the previous 3 games and was the 6th pitcher on Fossil Park's staff. The coaches had hoped that Zack's slower speed could keep the potent Tallahassee lineup off balance. Fossil Park was hoping for 2 or 3 solid innings from Snell with hope he could just keep it close. Some shaky defense in the first 2 innings put Tallahassee up 4-0, but Snell kept his composure knowing that only 1 run was earned. Fossil Park sprang to life in the 3rd posting 5 runs to take the lead. Fossil pounded out 13 hits in the game. Bret Maxwell and Riley Barr each had 3 hits and 3 RBI. Jason Mugavero had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Chris LaBrie also had 2 hits and an RBI. Connor Russell, Brien Story and Zack Snell rounded out the attack each with one hit.

Not only did Fossil Park hit well, but they played great defensively after the 2nd inning. Bret Maxwell, Jason Mugavero and Jason Hiers flashed their leather, each making spectacular plays to stall Tallahassee rallies. Zack Snell continuously got out of trouble by inducing weak grounders, pop ups and balls hit right back to him. Snell scattered 10 hits over 6 innings, giving up 7 runs (4 earned), and allowed 1 walk while striking out 2. Zack started to show signs of fatigue in the 6th, but Fossil Park stuck with him, but had their crafty lefty, Colton Tison ready and waiting in the wings if they needed him to close it out. Snell caught a second wind and recovered to get a huge strikeout for the 2nd out, then got Tallahassee's Harlan Harris to pop out to Chris LaBrie at 2nd base to end the game. Fossil Park will now prepare for the Dizzy Dean World Series in Southaven Mississippi. The tournament begins on July 21st. There will be approximately 45 9 yr old teams from around the country competing in this tournament. Should Fossil Park make it to the championship game this time, they won't hesitate to use their miracle again.