The Chipola baseball team is hoping to pull off the same feat as the Wewa softball team that is back to back state championships.

Coach Johnson and his guys, the runners-up in the panhandle conference, opening play at the juco state tourney in Winter Haven Friday, facing Seminole, and only needing 7 innings to dispatch the latter team.

The Indians scored one in the first, 3 in the second, 2 in the third and 4th, so they never trailed. Daniel Jones 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Matt Jackson gave up 3 through five, the pen with two shutout innings. So the Indians move to the winner's bracket, face St. Pete Saturday at 4 Eastern. Four more straight wins gets them another title!

Coach Johnson was certainly pleased with his team's play on day one.

Jeff Johnson, Chipola head coach, said, "Yeah, it is a great way to start to get out of there in 7 innings, you know Matt Jackson didn't have his best stuff today. You know he went 5 innings, went out in the 6th, couldn't throw his breaking ball very well today, and then we were able to get a couple relievers in there, let them get their feet wet. A couple of freshmen, both those guys did well for us. Very pleased with the way we swung the bat, swung the bat extremely well. Played great defense. You know it was a good way to start off, especially after being off for 19 days and having the anxiety we had of how we were gonna play after that break."