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Springstead can't let up nowBy FRANK PASTOR© St. Petersburg Times published April 23, 2002 SPRING HILL -- Springstead spent the past two months putting together the best regular season in team history. But if the Eagles aren't careful, all could be forgotten by the end of the day. Second-seeded Springstead (16-6) plays No. 3 Lecanto (9-16) in the Class 4A, District 7 semifinals today at Lecanto. The winner advances to Friday's final against Central or Leesburg and clinches a regional tournament berth. The loser leaves, forgotten. "This is our championship game right here," coach Carmine Rufa said. "This is probably the most important game we've ever played, because you lose in that first round and you go home. No one really remembers that 16-6." Springstead has won district tournament games before -- beating Hudson and Tarpon Springs the past two seasons -- but never advanced to regionals. To get there, the Eagles will have to beat Lecanto for the third time this season. They won the first two meetings 4-2 and 5-2. "It's at their place, so you know they're going to be fired up," Rufa said. "They're on a five-game win streak, so they've got all the confidence in the world. Even though we beat them twice this year, it doesn't really matter come playoff time." Springstead split its regular-season games against top-seeded Central and No. 4 Leesburg. The Eagles could be without one of their top hitters. Catcher Caitlin DeCristofaro, who broke the thumb on her throwing hand last week against Hernando, needs a doctor's release to play. If DeCristofaro can't go, leftfielder Ashley Liberatore will move behind the plate and Jessie Larocco will start in left. DeCristofaro is Springstead's second-leading hitter with a .396 batting average, one point behind shortstop Diana Eckert. Second baseman Vicki Albert and pitcher Emily Eicholtz also are hitting over .300.
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