The Wandering Disciple

Englewood, Florida: The Florida High Heat Black hosted the GCBA Black Sox in round one play of the 2017 SWFL Champions Cup at Englewood Sports Complex. An eight run second inning by the Black Sox proved too much to overcome as the High Heat fell 14-6. The Black Sox set the tempo for the game by reaching the scoreboard first in a big way by pushing across eight runs in the second inning. The High Heat tried to battle back but each time they would score, so would the Black Sox. In the end it was the High Heat falling 14-6, eliminating them from the tournament. Click on the photo above view the High Heat Black/Black Sox photo gallery .

Englewood, Florida: After losing the first game of pool play, the Florida High Heat Black were back out on the fields at Englewood Sports Complex for the second of two pool games. The High Heat lost a hard fought game to a tough Freeze Baseball team, losing 7-6. The Freeze jumped out to an early lead by scoring a pair of runs in the opening frame. Following a run by High Heat in the third, the Freeze added four more in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 6-1. At that point, the High Heat battled back to tie the game following a one run fourth and a four run fifth. However the Freeze walked off following a home run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 win. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat Black/Freeze photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: After starting the tournament in last place as the number ten seed, the Florida High Heat Black found a groove and won the first two games giving them a spot in the final four. They opponent in the semi-finals would be a tough PBA Outlaws team who had yet to lose all weekend. The first inning was close as both teams exchanged a run to open the game. However from that point forward, the Outlaws dominated the game, handing the High Heat a 10-2 loss and eliminating them from the tournament. It was a strong run for the High Heat, making it to the semi-finals in their first tournament together as a team. They will look to build on this progress they made this weekend as they head to battle next week in the 2017 SWFL Champions Cup in Port Charlotte. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat/Outlaws photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: Following a round one win, the Florida High Heat Black faced the number two seed in the tournament, the Cortez Stone Crabs in the second round of the 2017 Suncoast Travel Ball Battle 4 the Belt tournament. Using the momentum gained in the first game, the High Heat was firing on all cylinders as they shut-out the Stone Crabs 9-0. A two run homer in the first set the pace and High Heat pitching kept their opponents off the board as they coasted to the win and a spot in the tournament semi-finals. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat/Stone Crabs photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: After finishing pool play 0-2, the Florida High Heat Black came into Sunday’s Battle 4 the Belt tournament as the tenth seed. In the opening round match-up, the High Heat would face the number seven team, the Lakewood Ranch RiverDawgs. The High Heat scored early and never surrendered the lead as the won 12-8 in the opening round. The loss eliminated the RiverDawgs while sending the High Heat into round two of the tournament. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat/RiverDawgs photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: The second game of pool play for the Florida High Heat Black matched them up with the Bloomingdale Bandits Red.  The High Heat found themselves down big in the first inning and never recovered as they fell 11-1.  The loss gave the High Heat an 0-2 record for pool play and they will begin tournament play on Sunday morning.  Click on the photo above to view my Florida High Heat Black/Bloomingdale Bandits Red photo gallery.

Lakewood Ranch, Florida:  The Florida High Heat Black 12U team opened up the 2017 Battle 4 the Belt tournament with a game against LWR Sharks in the first of two games Saturday.  Both teams battled tough, exchanging the lead a few times before the Sharks squeezed out a slim 5-4 win. Click on the link below for a gallery of photos from the Florida High Heat/LWR Sharks game .