By Jeff Odom
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
Gaither baseball coach Frank Permuy could only look on in disbelief as a mass of green jerseys mobbed the infield.
His Cowboys’ (19-10-1) bats were left silent in a 2-0 loss to Venice in the Class 7A regional finals May 11. The game was scheduled to be played at Gaither but was moved to Steinbrenner High because of a conflict with Relay For Life.
“I just think playing over here tonight, we came here mentally, but we left our hearts at Cowboys Field,” Permuy said. He added, “I thought we played well, we got a lesson on how to bunt today and (Venice) did all the right little things. We just couldn’t make anything happen.”
Permuy learned of the venue change via the Internet and was not pleased with Hillsborough County’s decision to switch the location.
“It’s a shame for (the players) that they couldn’t play a regional final game at their own (expletive) field,” Permuy said. “I’m really upset about it. … That’s our county and that’s the FHSAA not wanting to make an exception in this case. They told us we could do both things simultaneously and then (county athletic director Lanness Robinson) told us we couldn’t.”
The Indians (22-8) took advantage of two Gaither errors in the top of the second inning when shortstop Oscar Mercado and second baseman Cody Robinson botched back-to-back grounders. Cowboys senior pitcher Alex Milne (4-3, 2.37 ERA) stayed focused and worked out of it without relinquishing a run.
“I just said ‘You’ve got to get out of this jam and pick your team up,’” Milne said. “I just thought I had to keep us in the game.”
Gaither’s best chance to score came in the second, when senior Jose Gonzalez hit a double over the left fielder. The scoring chance was short lived as Chris Torres and Robinson grounded out.
Indians pitchers Tyson Albert and Cooper Hammond kept his team out of sync.
“Those guys did a great job and kept us off balance the whole night,” Permuy said.
The Venice offense broke the scoreless tie in the third when a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt by Grant Banko put a runner on second with one out.
Eddie Pastrana recorded the second out by robbing the Indians of an extra base hit on a diving catch in the outfield, but Brandon Elmy drove in the winning run with a single to center. The Indians added a run in the seventh on a Banko hit to left field.
“They executed well and got the bunts down when they needed to,” Milne said. “Some go your way and some don’t, and tonight it just didn’t go our way.”
Milne finished with six strikeouts, three walks and one earned run in a complete game effort.
To reach the finals, the Cowboys defeated Seminole 6-1 at home May 8.
On the mound, right-handed senior Evan Gainey went the distance for the second straight game giving up just two hits and an earned run while striking out six.
“I felt really good and my arm felt outstanding,” Gainey said. “With a defense like that and hitting like that it’s so easy to pitch.”
Gainey (7-4, 1.62 ERA) sent down the Warhawks (24-4) in order to start the fourth inning, and the Gaither offense responded by sending nine players to the plate and scoring five runs.
Robinson was plunked in the back to load the bases with one out after Gonzalez singled to right field and Randy Oliva walked. Senior catcher Jake Gowen capitalized with a single up the middle to score two. Pastrana brought home Robinson on a sacrifice fly.
Permuy credited his seniors for coming up when it meant the most.
“Those guys busted their butt all week and they really wanted this thing,” Permuy said. “I don’t think anyone has jumped on (Seminole) early like that this year, but we were able to do that and it showed.”
