Stingers' bid for title falls short; Greensboro, N.C., rallies past Stingers to capture championship.(SPORTS)

Byline: PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENT

SARASOTA -- The St. Petersburg Stingers took an early lead but couldn't hang on to it and missed earning the AAU National 13-Under Baseball Tournament Championship late Friday at Ed Smith Stadium.

The Stingers (9-1), who finished No. 2 to the San Diego Stars a year ago in the 12-Under age group in Burnsville, Minn., had a 2-0 lead when the Greensboro (N.C.) Batting Center (10-0) came up with a five-run rally in the top of the fifth inning, then held on for a 5-3 national championship victory in front of 750 spectators.

St. Petersburg scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but left the bases loaded.

…