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Baseball: Wesley Chapel 2, Pasco 1

 
Published Feb. 28, 2015

WESLEY CHAPEL — Branden McLeod scattered six hits and struck out eight in pitching host Wesley Chapel to a 2-1 win over Class 5A, District 7 rival Pasco on Friday.

McLeod, a senior right-hander who also walked two and improved to 4-0, allowed only an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning.

"He's been outstanding," Wesley Chapel coach Steve Mumaw said. "When he's down in the zone like he was tonight he's a very good pitcher."

Wesley Chapel, which has been eliminated by Pasco in the past four district tournaments, won its third straight game to improve to 5-2, 3-2 in 5A-7.

Pasco dropped to 2-0 overall as well as in the district with a second consecutive loss.

"It's a rivalry and our kids get up for it," Mumaw said. "First blood doesn't mean anything. You want to win the last game."

The Wildcats, who left eight baserunners stranded, scored the only runs they needed in the bottom of the second. Corey Mumaw, the coach's son, hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Drew Fraley, who drew a leadoff walk. Jacob Thomas, who singled, also came in on that play on an errant throw to third base.

Afterward, the coach was more concerned with getting runners home than the two that came in.

"We've got to start moving guys over and getting them in," he said.

Pasco, which did not even get a runner to third until the fifth, finally broke through in the seventh. Jake Starling hit a one-out single and scored on an outfield error on a drive to deep left-center by his brother, Grant Starling.