Competition Helps Shorecrest Prep Remain in State's Baseball Elite - Coming up one victory short of a state championship last season, Shorecrest Prep baseball coach Don Reed beefed up the Chargers schedule in hopes the tough opponents make the team stronger.
This year he has a singular goal for his team: Be the best. Last year the Chargers were one step away from being the best, advancing to the Class 2A state title game before losing to Miami Westminster.
While the Chargers have to play district foes and conference rivals, the rest of the schedule is wide open. So Reed has gone about peppering his schedule with if not the better teams in the state, with teams representing larger schools
That's why the Chargers are playing Pinellas Park, Osceola, competing in various large school tournaments including the upcoming Seminole High School Steve Georgiadis Memorial tournament.
"The thing is, you like to play the best competition," Reed said. "Outside of our [district] and conference schedule, we want to play as many good teams and big schools as we can play whether they are Class 5A or Class 6A. That is why it is best to compete with those teams so we can play [strong in the postseason]."
Just this week, the Chargers will have played Pinellas Park and Kissimmee Osceola, one of the better baseball program sin the state.
At the Georgiadis tournament, it's likely the Chargers will play Plant City and Bradenton IMG, one of the better teams nationally along with some of the better teams in the state which will compete at the annual Seminole affair.
"I think that playing in that tournament, against that competition, come [postseason] helps us, helps us a lot," Reed said. "The better competition you play the more pressure there is upon you and you know how to play well to be competitive and hopefully that will help us at the end of the year when you play the top Class 2A teams in the state."
So far Shorecrest is living up to its reputation among the state's elite, especially the pitching of Jordan Lindsey who has been mowing down opponents in recent days.
Against Indian Rocks Christian last week, Lindsay fanned 12 Golden Eagles in six innings. A few days later Lindsay came in to pitch relief in the fifth inning with one out and struck out two batters to end the inning.
In the seventh, Lindsay again struck out two and got an infield pop out to end the game.
That's why the Chargers are playing Pinellas Park, Osceola, competing in various large school tournaments including the upcoming Seminole High School Steve Georgiadis Memorial tournament.
"The thing is, you like to play the best competition," Reed said. "Outside of our [district] and conference schedule, we want to play as many good teams and big schools as we can play whether they are Class 5A or Class 6A. That is why it is best to compete with those teams so we can play [strong in the postseason]."
Just this week, the Chargers will have played Pinellas Park and Kissimmee Osceola, one of the better baseball program sin the state.
At the Georgiadis tournament, it's likely the Chargers will play Plant City and Bradenton IMG, one of the better teams nationally along with some of the better teams in the state which will compete at the annual Seminole affair.
"I think that playing in that tournament, against that competition, come [postseason] helps us, helps us a lot," Reed said. "The better competition you play the more pressure there is upon you and you know how to play well to be competitive and hopefully that will help us at the end of the year when you play the top Class 2A teams in the state."
So far Shorecrest is living up to its reputation among the state's elite, especially the pitching of Jordan Lindsey who has been mowing down opponents in recent days.
Against Indian Rocks Christian last week, Lindsay fanned 12 Golden Eagles in six innings. A few days later Lindsay came in to pitch relief in the fifth inning with one out and struck out two batters to end the inning.
In the seventh, Lindsay again struck out two and got an infield pop out to end the game.
