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Champions Among Champs

Photo by ALBERTO SILLART

The East Bay American Athletics defeated the South Brandon American squad June 9 to win the major baseball tournament during the two-day Harold Garella District 13 Tournament of Champions in Tampa. Top row from left are coaches Alberto Sillart, Bill Douglas and Tom Figueroa. Middle row from left are Ryan Savidge, Lukas Douglas, Darius Sillart, Sam Carillo and Cynjun Diehle. Kneeling from left are Eric Woodcock, Cody Thurston, Michael Pettys, Josh Colon and Patrick Murray.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 25, 2008

GIBSONTON - Its regular season may have ended May 17, but a team from South Shore continued winning baseball games well into June.

The East Bay American Athletics - representing the Gibsonton-based East Bay Little League - defeated the South Brandon American team June 9 during the two-day Harold Garella District 13 Tournament of Champions at the South East Little League Park in Tampa.

Featuring youth baseball and softball players ranging in age from 6 to 14, the tournament, named after a longtime Little League volunteer who died in April, showcased more than 100 of south Hillsborough County's best players.

The Athletics triumphed over the Brandon team 5-4 in the finals of the major baseball tournament, which featured players age 11 and 12. They beat South Brandon National 4-2 and Pinecrest 11-1 in their previous games to reach the final.

Manager Bill Douglas and coaches Alberto Sillart and Tom Figueroa led the team to victory in the championship game, which saw the Athletics fall behind 4-0.

"It was a grueling challenge for the team," Sillart said. "The game almost got completely away from us, but we handled it well enough to be victorious."

In the fourth inning, the East Bay team, led by Sam Carillo, Ryan Savidge and Eric Woodcock, came alive with three runs.

During that inning, Savidge relieved Darius Sillart, who pitched the first three innings, allowing four runs on two hits and three errors.

"The errors just proved our focus was not there and the players were very flat on the field," Sillart said.

Savidge did not allow a run in relief, but the game was decided in the sixth inning with Carillo, Joshua Colon and Darius Sillart hitting back-to-back doubles, allowing East Bay to score two runs to take the lead for good.

"It ended up being a close game, but I'm very proud of the way the team stayed in the game when it could've gotten out of control," Sillart said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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