Wildcats victims of defensive lapses

Gulf coach Deann Newton thinks she has problems. But what about Wesley Chapel's Tom McHugh?

While Newton grows impatient in search of another victory -- the Buccaneers' lone win came against winless Wesley Chapel -- McHugh is trying to find a remedy for the one bad inning the Wildcats seem to have in every game.

"We've come close," McHugh said. "There's always one inning where we give up a lot of errors. It's not like anybody's beating us to death."

McHugh cited his team's 11-6 loss to Land O'Lakes on March 5 as an example. Wesley Chapel trailed 5-4 through five innings, but the Gators scored six runs -- five unearned -- in the sixth.

"We just make a lot of mistakes," McHugh said.

MIRROR IMAGES: Pasco and Zephyrhills posted identical 1-3 records in last week's tournament at Auburndale.

Pasco's lone win came against Lake Region. Zephyrhills edged Pasco 1-0 for its victory.

Bulldog starter Jessica Reese pitched her third shutout in that game and Breanne Davis scored on Sara Johnson's single.

UPS & DOWNS: Other than unbeaten River Ridge, winless Wesley Chapel and one-win Gulf, the season has been a roller-coaster ride for the county's ballclubs.

At 6-8, Pasco dropped three of four in the Auburndale tournament. That came after a 2-0 win in eight innings over Mitchell, which has seven victories.

"We're learning," Pasco coach Ray Carver said. "We've got to sneak up on somebody."

Christina Harris, the Pirates' workhorse on the mound, sports a 4-4 record and tossed a two-hitter against the Mustangs.

"She's throwing the ball real well," Carver said. "She's hitting her spots. When you throw a two-hit shutout, you've got to be doing something right."

Another indication of the topsy-turvy season is Ridgewood. The proof is in the Rams' 7-4 record with six of those wins coming at home.

"You're supposed to win those," Ridgewood coach Greg Bollinger said.

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