Wildcats explode in big win

WESLEY CHAPEL -- The Wildcats didn't just get even against Gulf, they did so in record fashion.

The Buccaneers' lone win this season came against Wesley Chapel, which won Tuesday's rematch of Sunshine Athletic Conference cellar-dwellers by a lopsided 11-0 margin.

"I know we're not great, but we're not a bad team," said Wesley Chapel coach Tom McHugh, who two weeks ago predicted a win over the Bucs. "If I thought that we were bad I wouldn't have been confident that we would win."

In Wesley Chapel's most balanced effort of the season, Amy Benner pitched a three-hitter, striking out three and walking none.

And unlike in the 10-8 loss to Gulf, the defense did not commit a single error.

Offensively, the Wildcats set a school record with 18 hits. Brenna McHugh, the coach's daughter, Crystal Hogsett, Tara Recine and Benner each had three hits and Sarah VanBuskirk added two.

"That's what we should have done the first time," coach McHugh said of his team's offensive outburst.

IF NOT FOR HILL: Breanne Hill pitched Ridgewood to both of its wins -- 2-1 over Crystal River and 4-2 over East Lake -- as the host team went 2-2 in the Rams Classic.

Hardly earth-shattering news considering Hill has 12 of the Rams' 14 victories this season.

"We're a different team with Bre on the mound," Ridgewood coach Greg Bollinger said. "She'll keep (opponents) to one, two or three runs and we're in every ballgame."

Hill, a junior, has tied her single-season high for wins and with 124 strikeouts is six shy of last year's mark. Moreover, Hill is within range of Amy Birch's school-record 153 strikeouts.

Ridgewood's offense sputtered in the tourney, mustering just seven runs on 14 hits with a .156 team batting average.

First baseman Jenna Lowe didn't struggle at the plate though, collecting five of the Rams' 14 hits.

"She has pretty quick hands," Bollinger said. "They don't throw the ball past her."

DOWN TO THE WIRE: River Ridge has clinched the top seed in the Class 4A, District 8 tournament, but there is a tight battle for second place.

Start with tonight's pivotal matchup with Ridgewood (7-3 in the district) hosting Land O'Lakes (6-4). The Gators won the first meeting with the Rams 5-2 on Feb. 26.

"It's very big," said Land O'Lakes coach Jerry English, whose team has won four of its past five games. "When you get down to it, it's what you do with Tarpon Springs (7-4), Ridgewood and River Ridge (8-0)."

English then added Mitchell (5-5) to that mix.

"The second, third and fourth seeds are up for grabs," Bollinger said. "We beat Tarpon Springs pretty soundly, Land O'Lakes beat us and we've got River Ridge (on April 11 at home)."

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