Pinellas County public schools, and some private schools, are off next week for spring break, but the high school baseball teams will be busy, busy, busy. Eighteen public and private schools in the county will be playing in one of three tournaments at Dunedin, Seminole and Northeast.
Dunedin tournament
Where: Englebert Complex
Skinny: This is the oldest spring tournament in Pinellas, and the 44th straight year the tournament has been held in Dunedin. With its mix of public, private and out-of-area schools, this tournament tends to draw the most attention. “Any schools that played in it the year before can play in it the next year as long as they register by a certain date,’’ Dunedin coach and tournament director Tom Hilbert said. “We used to get maybe two schools from out of state and two more from out of the area, but when the economy went bad teams don’t travel as much. I think we still have a good field, and I think it’s one of the best weeks of baseball all year.’’ The lone out-of-area team, Lynn Haven Mosley, is 14-1.
Monday: Dunedin vs. Central (Field No. 5), 5; Pasco vs. Osceola (Field No. 4), 5; Countryside vs. River Ridge (Field No. 3), 5; Tarpon Springs vs. Clearwater Central Catholic (Field No. 3), 8; East Lake vs. Pinellas Park (Field No. 5), 8; Mosley vs. St. Petersburg Catholic (Field No. 4), 8
Tuesday: Fivay vs. Tarpon-CCC winner (Field No. 3), 5; Calvary Christian vs. Mosley-SPC winner (Field No. 6), 5; Loser’s bracket games, 5 (Field No. 5) and 8 (Field No. 3); Countryside-River Ridge winner vs. East Lake-Pinellas Park winner (Field No. 4), 8; Dunedin-Central winner vs. Pasco-Osceola winner (Field No. 5), 8
Wednesday: Loser’s bracket games, 5 (Field Nos. 3-5) and 8 (Field No. 3); semifinals (Field Nos. 4-5), 8
March 28: Loser’s bracket games (Field Nos. 4-5), 5 and 8
March 29: Consolation games, (Field Nos. 4-5), 5; final (Field No. 5), 8
Steve Georgiadis Memorial Tournament
Where: Seminole High
Skinny: The tournament, now in its 23rd year, is held in memory of former Seminole and University of Florida pitcher Steve Georgiadis. He died in 1990 after complications from shoulder surgery. “Dunedin’s tournament always has a big field because they are able to play multiple games at once,’’ Seminole coach Jeff Pincus said. “And lately, Northeast has gotten into the act. So we try to get some teams from out of the area that have some talent and that we wouldn’t normally get to see.’’
Saturday: Cambridge Christian vs. Sarasota Out-of-Door, 4; Seminole vs. Canterbury, 7
Monday: Loser’s bracket game, 1; Indian Rocks Christian vs. West Boca Community, 4; St. Petersburg vs. Pembroke Pines Charter, 7
Tuesday: Loser’s bracket game, 1; semifinals, 4 and 7
Wednesday: Consolation finals, 4 and 7
March 28: Final, 7
Northeast Spring Break Tournament
Where: Northeast High
Skinny: Northeast is a relative newcomer to the spring break scene. Mitchell should be the favorite in this tournament, which Orlando Cypress Creek won last year. The Mustangs (11-3) have wins over Pinellas teams Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Palm Harbor University and Osceola. Host Northeast (8-5) has also played well with quality wins over Countryside and Dunedin. Lakeland Kathleen is 7-7 this season.
Saturday: Dixie Hollins vs. Clearwater, 10; Largo vs. Mitchell, 1; Sunlake vs. Lakewood, 4; Kathleen vs. Northeast, 7
Monday: Loser’s bracket games, 2 and 4:30; Sunlake-Lakewood winner vs. Kathleen-Northeast winner, 7:30
Tuesday: Loser’s bracket games, 2 and 4:30; Dixie-Clearwater winner vs. Largo-Mitchell winner, 7:30
Wednesday: Third-place game, 4; Final, 7