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Countryside will remain a state power despite the loss of intimidating pitcher Crystal Crews.
By JOHN SCHWARB, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 18, 2002
CLEARWATER -- Let's get one piece of business out of the way: Countryside will be just fine.
The Cougars likely will have plenty of five-inning games, hover near the top of the state poll and play into May.
But for the first time in three years, Countryside will have a different look. More specifically, the old one graduated.
"Crystal (Crews) had the look," Palm Harbor U. coach Chuck Poetter said. "She could terrify, the fact that she was so strong and could throw hard."
Crews, a three-time Times county player of the year, was the face of a Countryside team that last season finished 32-1 and reached No. 1 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. Her numbers spoke for themselves -- 22-1 with 217 strikeouts in 143 innings -- but her aura did as much damage as her fastball.
"There was a big intimidation factor there; that was in their heads before they even stepped on the field," East Lake coach Bob Hudson said.
This season Countryside will be missing the fear factor, at least at the outset. The headliner will not be the proven power pitcher, but a young gun, sophomore Bree Spence.
As a freshman, Spence allowed one earned run and struck out 80 in 44 innings, going 7-0 with a 0.16 ERA -- albeit against largely inferior opponents. Crews pitched in most of the big games.
Last week, Spence got off to a flying start with a preseason win over Seminole that was a one-hitter or a no-hitter, depending on which coach you talk to.
"That relieved a lot of stress I've been having about coming in and filling (Crews') shoes," Spence said. "I'm anxious to see how I do during the season."
Cougars coach Scott Kitchen says Spence lacks the nasty side Crews had but may be the better overall athlete. Over time, he said, Spence probably will build a reputation as well.
"When Crystal was out there, sometimes girls on other teams would say, 'We can't touch her.' I think after this year they'll say the same thing for Bree," Kitchen said.
Then again, a lights-out pitcher is just one element for Countryside, which returns several components from its 2001 lineup.
Carly Brieske (.402 average, 29 RBIs), Kattrina Dowd (county-leading .631 average, 70 hits) and Brooke Johannessen (.338, 14 RBIs) are the leading seniors among a group of capable hitters.
Defensively, the luxury of hard-throwing right-handers allows Kitchen some movement. Dowd will go from shortstop to second base, her position as a freshman and sophomore and next year at South Florida.
Kitchen figures she will get many more plays at that spot, as right-handed hitters have a hard time getting around on pitches. Ditto for third base, where he can play it by committeeyet avoid trouble, and leftfield, where Kitchen figured about six balls were hit in the air last season.
The key for opponents will be to make anyone on the Countryside defense work besides the pitcher. Chamberlain did that in last season's regional final, capitalizing on six errors in a 5-0 win.
"They've got some new people, and they haven't been tested," Seminole coach Mark DeRuzzo said. "If you don't put the ball in play, there's not much you can do. You don't know what they can do."