Tampa Bay Tech Capitalizes For 3-0 Win Over Spoto

Monday night’s matchup featuring the Tampa Bay Tech Titans at the Spoto Spartans (2-7) was a game led by strong pitching performances by both team’s starters. Both starters went the seven-inning distance in a pitcher’s duel that went for a 3-0 road victory for the Titans (2-7).

Titans starter Tre’ Banks managed to keep the Spartan’s bats quiet for the most part, allowing six hits, only one of which went for extra bases. It was only Banks’ second outing of the season, but one that drew praise from Titans manager Demetrius Heath.

“He kept the ball down, for the most part,” Heath said. “His off-speed pitch was working tonight.”

Spartan’s starter Junior Defee came out of the gates looking very strong, striking out seven of the first nine batters he faced. Defee did his best to stifle the bats of the Titan’s but they managed to push runs across the plate as a result of a struggling defense behind him.

Titan’s center fielder Jermaine White reached base in the top of the fourth after a near-collision between two aggressive defenders allowed the ball to fall in play and White to advance to second on the error. White wasn’t done however, taking off for third base two at bats later. This bold play forced a throwing error that sent White trotting home for the first run of the game.

“I liked his consistency and his willingness to battle back from adversity,” Spartan’s manager Gerald Barron said.

Defee faced more issues in the top of the sixth, giving up a lead-off walk to White. White was a force to be reckoned with on the bases, swiping his second base of the night to put himself into scoring position and then moving into third on a fielder’s choice by third baseman Jarid Salisbury. Designated Hitter Joe Lewis then came through the following at bat with an RBI single. Salisbury was looking for a fastball and when he got it he drilled it up the middle to plate White for the Titan’s second run of the game.

The third and final run came later in the top of the seventh when right fielder Jeff Ray reached base on an error, advancing to second as a result. An infield hit by shortstop Freddrick Drayton moved Ray to third, giving second baseman Malcom Boyd an ideal RBI situation with only one out. Boyd proceeded to lay down a perfect bunt single plating Ray and advancing Drayton to third.

The Spartan’s didn’t necessarily have any issues putting men on base; it was trying to get them in where they ran into problems, stranding a total of 10 men on base. Nonetheless the Spartan’s manager was proud of his team despite being handed the loss.

“They didn’t quit, they knew that they weren’t playing as good as they could play but they kept battling the whole game,” Barron said.

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