Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Girls prep softball notebook

By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2002

Seventh-inning rally wins title for Pirates

INVERNESS -- Melissa Coburn figured all it would take to turn Crystal River's fortunes around was a base hit. How right she was.

The senior third baseman opened the bottom of the seventh with a bloop single to right, sparking a two-run rally as Crystal River defeated Citrus 2-1 to win its first district title since 1997.

Emily Bayer also singled in the seventh, and the Pirates (17-7) tied the score on a wild pitch. The winning run crossed the plate on the same play after a Citrus (18-8) throw home got away.

"Once we got that one hit, we were pumped up," Coburn said.

Bayer (10-2) allowed six hits and worked her way out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the seventh. Her counterpart, Krystle Cummings (12-5), no-hit Crystal River through five and finished with a three-hitter.

Citrus shortstop Alycia LePage scored in the first on a sacrifice fly by Ashley Worrell.

"What do you say?" Crystal River coach Lanna Hough said. "The girls didn't want to lose."

Eagles win first crown

LECANTO -- Emily Eicholtz pitched a three-hit shutout, and Caitlin DeCristofaro drove in the winning run as Springstead edged Central 1-0 to win its first district title.

Central's Jenny Clark pitched shutout ball for five innings before Springstead reached her for its only run in the sixth.

Diana Eckert led off with a bunt single just out of Clark's reach. After Stephanie Discepolo sacrificed Eckert to second, DeCristofaro singled sharply to center. Centerfielder Samantha Downing bobbled the ball, allowing Eckert to score.

Relying on her changeup to keep hitters off balance, Eicholtz struck out five and allowed three hits and one walk.

Central put runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth but did not come up with the clutch hit.

Springstead third baseman Vanessa Ziegler made the biggest defensive play of the game in the fourth. With Liz Wallace on third and two outs, Ziegler gloved Lindsey Herr's shot down the line and threw her out. Clark pitched well enough to win, striking out nine and yielding three hits and one walk. She also singled twice.

Springstead (18-6) hosts Land O'Lakes (15-9) in Tuesday's region quarterfinals. Central (11-11) will travel to River Ridge (27-2).

-- FRANK PASTOR

Knights end drought

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The last time River Ridge and Land O'Lakes met to decide the district title, the Gators rallied from a three-run deficit for a 6-5 win.

Unlike that 1997 game, there would be no comeback Friday. River Ridge, four times a district runner-up, scored early and often to rout Land O'Lakes 11-0 in five innings for the first district championship in the school's 11-year history.

"It's been a long time," River Ridge coach Ernie Beck said. "This year, it was our turn."

River Ridge hosts Central on Tuesday in a regional quarterfinal, and Springstead hosts Land O'Lakes. Christine Beck (14-1) pitched a two-hitter, went 3-for-4, scored three times and drove in two runs. Her defense, however, prevented the Gators from scoring.

Bunt singles by Amber DeYoung and Nikki Williamson followed a walk to Brittany Hipps as Land O'Lakes loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth. Beck got out of the jam on three consecutive grounders back to the mound.

"I like Christine there in big games," coach Beck said of his daughter.

Adrienne Cicirello scored four runs for the Knights, who had 14 hits and capitalized on five Land O'Lakes errors.

Freshman Tricia Thomas punctuated the victory with a two-run home run in her first at-bat.

-- STEVE LEE

Pasco can't solve Bartow

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Bartow couldn't shake Pasco in Friday's final until a three-run fifth secured its 7-2 victory. Bartow (28-2) will host Osceola in the regional quarterfinals Tuesday, and Pasco (12-14) will travel to Tampa Catholic.

Bartow beat Pasco by a combined 22-0 in 10 innings during the regular season. The Yellow Jackets seemed to be continuing the trend with a two-out, three-run rally in the first.

However, Pasco threatened in the fourth when Heather Stroud led off with a double to left. Jami Pass followed with a single to put runners on first and third with no outs.

Bartow coach Glenn Rutenbar started warming up pitcher Lindsay Littlejohn. But starter Ericka Jenkins allowed just one run in the fourth and lasted until the sixth. "We were thinking, 'Let's get her up in case something happens,"' Rutenbar said.

"Ericka was struggling a little bit."

The Pirates allowed three hits and committed four errors in Bartow's three-run fifth. However, they came back with a run in the sixth, forcing Rutenbar to bring in Littlejohn.

Littlejohn, who struck out seven in three no-hit innings Thursday against Zephyrhills, retired the last five Pirates to seal the district title.

-- WAYNE GRUMET

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright