Packers Drop Regular Season Opener to Tarpon Springs, 11-1

Editor's Note: Author Jeff Rosenfield is a "Packer Parent" — his son is a member of the baseball program. If you're a Packer Parent, too, contact us at largo@patch.com to contribute info or photos of your child's team, or share them in a blog post or in the Largo Patch Pics & Clips gallery!

Pitchers and catchers reported to major league spring training camps on Monday morning, and the 2013 high school baseball season officially began as well for a number of area teams.

The Winning Inning/Clearwater High School Invitational kicked off on Monday at Jack Russell Stadium, with Largo High and Clearwater participating along with other area teams such as Clearwater Central Catholic, Indian Rocks Christian and Tarpon Springs.

Tuesday afternoon, the Packers played host to Tarpon in the first game of the season for both teams, with the Spongers coming away with an 11-1, five-inning victory.

Packers starting pitcher Chris D’Angelo absorbed the loss despite pitching four solid innings, while Spongers ace Caleb Koulianos nailed down the victory with a five-inning, five-hit gem.

“Chris pitched great. We just needed to get him some help,” Largo head coach Dan Flynn said afterwards.

“The other pitcher (Koulianos) beat us tonight. He was the story.” 

Largo moves into the losers bracket of the tournament, which is being played at the old Phillies stadium, now the Winning Inning Baseball Academy, off N. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Clearwater. 

The Packers will play the loser of the Clearwater and Indian Rocks Christian game on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.; Tarpon Springs will face the winner of that game Thursday at 7 p.m. 

The championship game is Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.