I always really enjoyed covering Dunnellon Tigers baseball. They were always loaded with talented players, and had exciting teams on the field. This was published in the Citrus County Chronicle.

Thomas Gemkow
Sports Correspondent

Kyle Ginley and Dunnellon High School made quick work of South Sumter High School, shelling the Raiders in a 10-0 victory in Dunnellon. Ginley, a sophomore threw a mere 44 pitches in 5 innings of work allowing only one hit in his shut out of the Raiders.

“I was feeling pretty loose before the game,” said Ginley who is 2-0 on the season. “But I had a good warm up and felt strong in the bullpen.”

Ginley, a second year letterman at Dunnellon played third base for the Tigers last season before becoming one of this year’s starting pitchers.

“I usually feel nervous before the game, but not tonight,” said Ginley. “This is by far my best performance.”

Dunnellon started their romp in the bottom of the 1^st inning. Lead off hitter Donnie Roof took the first pitch he saw and sent in down the first baseline for a single and was advanced to second on a single to short from Billy Post. Roof and Post each took an extra base on a wild pitch setting the stage for Eric Cox, who drove in both base runners with a single. Cleanup hitter Jarod Harder sent a deep shot into right field, tripling in Cox and putting the Tigers up 3-0. Catcher Mike Payne drove in Harder with a single, and would later score on a single from Chris Anderson, adding to Dunnellon’s comfortable lead.

Cox finished the game 2-3 with 2 RBI’s.

“The kids are really starting to feel the music,” said Dunnellon coach Jim Buccheri. “The kids are playing well in all aspects. There are still some team mistakes. We just have to keep playing and respecting everyone the same.”

Ginley pitched two more innings of perfect ball before a Derek Baker single broke things up. Baker’s single would be the only hit managed by South Sumter all night.

With the score 5-0 going into the bottom of the 5^th, South Sumter pulled starting pitcher Matt Barnes in favor of John Harrell. With the bases loaded and no outs, Ginley came to the plated and helped his own cause, doubling in Anderson and Matt Crutchfield making the score 7-0. Dunnellon would score 3 more runs to leave the field having won by the 10 run mercy rule.

Ginley finished the night 1-3 at the plate with 2 RBI’s while striking out 3 on the mound.

“Tonight was Kyle’s (Ginley) coming out party tonight,” said Buccheri of his sophomore pitcher. “He had great control of his pitches. His fast ball was lively and he mixed stuff up tonight.”

With a win against Williston tomorrow, and a Citrus loss to Crystal River, the Tigers (8-2) would move into second place in the district.