VSI Tampa Flames Vie for 2nd Place With 4-Day Road Trip

The following report was submitted by Alex Miranda, of VSI Flames Inc.

______________

The VSI Tampa Flames will be hitting the road early June 29 to play two games this weekend. Both games will be the team's second match against each opponent this season. The Flames will be taking on Panama City Beach Pirtes and Mississippi Brilla in hopes of gaining six points on the road to put them in second place.

The first game will be against the Panama City Pirates. Kick off starts 7 p.m. (CST). The Flames suffered their biggest defeat of the season against the Pirates after losing 3-0 on their home pitch June 10. However, the Flames will have a different starting line-up as some of their previously injured players are back in top form.

Although the Pirates are in fifth place, they have proven to be a force to be reckoned with. The Flames know this, and will be sure to come out with full intensity and desire to win back those three points.

The following game will take place July 1 in Jackson, Miss. Kick-off will start at 7 p.m. (CST) for the Flames' second attempt of victory against the Brilla. The two teams last met May 18 at J.C. Handley Park in Brandon. The Flames were able to pull out a 1-0 victory last match, so Brilla will be sure to come out strong and seeking revenge.

Both teams have had more than a month to make adjustments to their style of play and starting line-up, so we can be sure to have another exciting match.  Brilla sits in sixth place, just one point behind the Pirates, with 14 points total.

The Flames, with 17 points, is in third place, trailing behind Ocala (25 points) and IMG (23 points). However, VSI has only played 10 games. Ocala has a two- game advantage, having played 12 matches so far, and IMG has played 13 matches.

If the Flames win both games this weekend, they will earn six more points after 12 games total to tie them for second place with IMG, which has still played one more game. Therefore, there is still hope for the Flames to finish at the top of the Southeast Division this season.

The Flames will return home from the trip to Panama City Beach and Jackson on Monday to gear up for a mid-week clash with the division leader, the Ocala Stampede. Ocala makes its secnd trip to Brandon on July 5 for what is sure to be a fiercely contested match. The Flames have beaten Ocala on their home soil while Ocala beat VSI in Brandon on the opening match of the season.

Kick-off July 5 is 7 p.m. For more information about the VSI Tampa Flames or to order tickets, visit www.vsi-flames.com.

______________

RELATED COVERAGE: