(Tallahassee's No. 9 Bert Givens was awarded the Tournament Defensive MVP.  Givens also pitched the game that shut down Fossil Park to advance to the final.)

THE MINOR MAJOR TROPHY GOES NORTH

The Florida Little Major League State Tournaments found a new champion to rein this year as Tallahassee American defeated Fossil Park ( 13 - 1)  in the Semi-Final round to advance to the championship round to take on Pensacola Bill Bond.  Tallahassee was relentless at the plate shutting down the hitting power of both Fossil Park and Pensacola. A combination of great pitching and tremendous defense once again proved to be a winning formula (Tallahassee 16, Pensacola 6).

Tallahassee proved today (July 14th. 2003) that they possessed the ingredients necessary to win a state championship as they out scored both of their opponents collectively 29 - 7. Tallahassee scored 13 runs on 10 hits versus Fossil Park and 16 runs on 11 hits versus Pensacola.  Fossil Park was held to only 1 run on 4 hits and Pensacola managed to earn 6 runs on 10 hits in today's final match-ups.

(No. 25 Ryan Harbour is credited with one of Fossil Park's 4 hits vs. Tallahassee)

HOPES FOR A 6TH. STRAIGHT TITLE VANISHES

O' BOY...It's another repeat of two days ago.  Tallahassee American hands Fossil Park it's second worst defeat (13 - 1) of the tournament as Fossil Park watches its repeat for a State Championship disappear.    Bert Givens keyed off with a 3 RBI single and picks up the win striking out six of his opponents while walking one helping his team make it to the championship game against Pensacola Bill Bond.  Martin Shipman (Home-Run Derby Winner) drilled three singles and a double as Ryan Deckert tripled. Each with singles were Tom Watson, Pete Barrilleaux, Will Finley, Matthew Sutton and Bert Givens.  Fossil Park's Morgan Harris takes the loss.

Thanks to the "B Team", as the benched kids have often been called, the torture was halted by some great defense behind the pitching of Matt Harris.  The hitting came alive as these kids came in cold in the fourth and shut down the power of Tallahassee. These kids managed to load the bases with hits by Andres Romero, Adam Gamble, Ryan Harbour and an RBI single by Nick Morgan saving Fossil Park from a shutout.

FOSSIL PARK ADVANCES TO SEMI-FINALS

Fossil Park takes Final Four Honors this year at the State Tournaments defeating their nemesis Pinellas Park to advance to the Semi-Finals. Travis Scott was given another chance to redeem himself after yesterdays outing and delivered a top notch performance  for 3 innings before giving up his first hit in the 4th.  Morgan Harris calmed the Pinellas Park threat in the 5th. and Nick Morgan sealed the victory in the 6th. capped by a sensational line-drive snare by first baseman DJ Krouse for the third and final out.  Perhaps Fossil Park learned their lesson after yesterday's real "spanking" by Pensacola.  

The "FP" boys came alive with great defense and powerful hitting at the plate to shut down Pinellas Park 11 - 3. Head Coach Harold Harris made necessary  changes at the proper times when Pinellas Park gained momentum and rallied for 3 runs in the 4th. inning closing the lead to 6 - 3.  Mike Lovejoy was once again called upon with the bases loaded but Pinellas Park challenged him and Mike went down swinging.  Pinellas Park was hit hard by a strong crew off the bench as members from the bench helped rally for an additional 5 runs to seal the victory.

(Mike Lovejoy and Head Coach Harold Harris: Courtesy of keysnews.com)

PENSACOLA  STUNS FOSSIL PARK

Fossil Park falls hard to Pensacola Bill Bond today as the Bill Bonds handed Fossil Park their worst defeat yet...(17 - 3).    

Pitcher/3rd Baseman Mike Lovejoy (Shown Left) was called upon with a 12 - 2 deficit to try to spark some life.  Mike got his team out of trouble in the 4th. but was unable to continue in the 5th after giving up 2 runs.  Lovejoy was replaced by 3rd Baseman Travis Scott who walked in an additional 3 runs before retiring the side.  Unfortunately for Mike, in his first and only outing of the entire all-star series, he was charged with all 5 runs in the 5th.  Matt Harris takes the loss giving up 12 runs in 4 innings enhanced by a number of errors by both the infield and outfield.

(No. 14 Mike Lovejoy hit a Grand Slam over the batting cages behind the left field fence vs. Cedar Hills)

FOSSIL PARK WINS OPENING DAY DOUBLE-HEADER

It's opening game day and Fossil Park takes a pair of wins as they defeat Cedar Hills and West Duval (Jacksonville) in a double header today.  Today's victories were accented by the pitching of Charlie Lamar and his No-Hit Shutout and Mike Lovejoy's Grand Slam Homerun in the first game versus Cedar Hills (Fossil Park 11, Cedar Hills 0).

Pitcher Nick Morgan went the full 6 innings picking up the win against West Duval in the second game.  Nick led his team to a solid 16 -3 victory allowing only 1 earned base hit.

Fossil out scored their opponents today 27 - 3 without  the aid of some of their big hitters still sitting on the bench.  Fossil Park is blessed with a group of kids on the bench that play and produce as well as the starters (and some perhaps better) at their respective positions. Those, like Mike Lovejoy, given a one-time at bat, each produced coming in cold off the bench.  For the record, Mike Lovejoy entered the second game once again with bases loaded and was given an Intentional Walk and earned another RBI...WE CALL THAT R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!

(Bottom, L-R: Charlie Lamar, Kyle Dukes; Back, L-R: Kyle Hammel, Travis Scott, and Matt Harris)

KEY WEST:  FOSSIL PARK MINOR MAJORS TOPS OPPONENTS  IN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

The kids from the Fossil Park Minor Majors Division clean up on individual skill  competitions during opening ceremonies at the Florida Little Major League State Tournaments.  Second Baseman Kyle Duikes won first place in the bunting competition and Pitcher Matt Harris took 3rd place honors.  In the Throwing Accuracy competition, Fossil Park walked away with all three trophies. Taking 1st. Place was 1st. Baseman/Pitcher Charlie Lamar and Travis Scott and Kyle Hammel taking 2nd. and 3rd Place respectively.  Special mentions goes to Adam Gambel in the Running Competition and Mike Lovejoy in the Home Run Derby with each placing 4th. overall. Mike was edged out of the top three in the second tie-breaker.

(Click Image For Better View)

PINELLAS PARK WINS FLML DISTRICT 5 TITLE

The Pinellas Park Mustang All-Stars Defeated The Fossil Park Minor-Major All-Stars for the Florida Little Major League Minor-Major Division District Championship.  Pinellas Park held Fossil Park to only 3 hits in their 10 - 3 routing of the Fossil All-Stars.  Pinellas Park began their road to Key West first by defeating Seminole 17 - 4.  They followed that victory with a close win over Fossil Park 6 - 5.  Pinellas Park had to once again face Fossil Park in the Title Game Tuesday night after two weeks of rain delays and other scheduling conflicts in order to lay claims on their District 5 Championship. Both Pinellas Park and Fossil Park will represent District 5 in Key West, Florida for the Florida Little Major League State Championship.

(Click Image For Better View)

FOSSIL PARK...DISTRICT RUNNER'S UP

Fossil Park takes runner's up in the District 5 Title Game.  Tuesday: July 1, 2003:  Fossil Park fell hard to an overpowering performance by Pinellas Park (Pinellas Park 10, Fossil Park 3).  Fossil Park will have another chance to stake claim to the State Title in Key West July 10 - 14 where the Florida Little Major League State Championships are being held.  View Tournament results HERE.

DISTRICT TOURNAMENT MVPs

Yankee's Adam Christner (left) shared Defensive MVP honors along with the League Champion Diamondback's Morgan Harris (photo not yet available). Adam made several spectacular defensive plays at Short-Stop during the tournament series exceeding all expectations among this age group.

The Offensive MVP went to the Braves' DJ Krouse (Photo not yet available).  DJ had a heavy bat during the entire series and was the premier hitter during each of his times at bat against Pinellas Park.  Congratulations to each of these young men on their success.