Two high school baseball teams from Florida ? Gulliver Prep (Miami) and Palm Bay High (Melbourne) ? traveled across the United States last week only to face off against one another in the championship game of the 11th Annual National Classic Friday night at Cal State Fullerton.

While both teams loaded up on their frequent flyer miles, it was Gulliver Prep that headed back to Florida with the National Classic crown in tow, following its 7-2 win.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings, as the Palm Bay Pirates stranded two base runners while the Raiders of Gulliver left one on base. After Palm Beach's starting pitcher, Johnny Good, gave up consecutive walks to start the third inning, he was replaced with David Danowski, who promptly gave up a walk, a triple, a double, another walk and a base hit before balking. He finally got out of the inning, but the Raiders held a 4-0 lead they would never relinquish.

Despite a lead-off single by Charlie Bargeron and a double by Billy Rightmire, the Palm Bay was unable to score in its half of the third inning.

After the Raiders were held scoreless in the fourth, the Pirates finally got on the board. Matt Rightmire led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. He later scored on consecutive base hits from Tim Nungesser and Bargeron.

In the fifth, the Raiders put another run on the board after Danowski gave up a base hit and a double to Dennis Gomez and Javier Herrera, respectively, and an RBI single to Danny DeLaVega. But the Pirates answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. After Good drew a walk and Burt Clark was hit by a pitch, Travis NeSmith came on to pitch for the Raiders. He gave up an RBI single to the first batter he faced, making the score 5-2.

The Raiders' Daniel Figueroa (2-for-4) led off the seventh inning with a base hit and scored when Gomez (3-for-4) doubled. He then scored on an RBI single by Lon Balter, which extended Gulliver's lead to 7-2.

The Pirates had their chances to get back in the game, but costly defensive errors combined with questionable base running made the feat next-to-impossible.

Click here to see more articles in National H.S. Athlete Features

If you know of a good high school sports story worthy of this section or any other coverage in 1999-2000, let us know.