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Pasco is ready to extend its surprising season against the No. 1 team in the state, Bartow.
By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 4, 2002
DADE CITY -- When LaBelle came to town to play Pasco's softball team in a region semifinal Thursday night, the Cowboys were unexpected guests.
So surprised were the Pirates to be hosting a second-round playoff game that one of the main priorities in practice a day before was some last-minute groundskeeping.
"We had an easy practice, trimmed a little grass," first-year coach Ray Carver said. "We didn't know we'd be playing here anymore."
The Pirates (14-14) are still alive, reaching a .500 record after beating the Cowboys 5-3 on Thursday. They're one of only eight teams left in the Class 3A playoffs, but next up is the No. 1 team in the state, district-rival Bartow.
Three times the teams played this season, and three times Bartow won, by a combined score of 29-2. The Yellow Jackets, who lost in last year's state championship game to Green Cove Springs Clay, are a major obstacle but one the Pirates would like another shot at.
"We want them," said senior pitcher Christina Harris, who struck out 10 against LaBelle, including three in the seventh inning. "We want them bad."
The Pirates are an inexperienced group dominated by underclassmen, but their youth hasn't been a liability in the playoffs. In the first inning against LaBelle, a throwing error on a bunt cost Pasco two runs, but the Pirates shook it off and didn't make another error until the last inning.
"If we got down, there's a possibility we might not win," said sophomore Brittney McCarty, who had an RBI single in each of her first three at-bats Thursday. "When teams get down, they tend to fall back and do even worse, but we keep our heads up when we make an error."
The winner of tonight's game at Bartow will advance to the state tournament at Tampa's Ed Radice Complex on Wednesday. Pasco has reached the final four only once in the fast-pitch era, losing to Naples in the 1994 state semifinals.
"All these kids are just super," said Carver, who coached at Saint Leo before joining the Pirates. "They're a lot of fun and they work hard. When these (sophomores) are seniors and our ninth-graders are juniors, this is really going to be a good team."
WHO: River Ridge (29-2) vs. Green Cove Springs Clay (22-9)
WHAT: Class 4A, Region 2 final
WHEN: 7 p.m. today
WHERE: Clay High School
DIRECTIONS: Take SR 50 East to I-75 North. After about 80 miles, exit at SR 121 (Exit 74). Keep left at the fork in the ramp. Turn left onto SR 121 North. Stay straight onto SR 331 North. After about 5 miles, S.R. 331 North becomes SR 24 East. Follow for 13 miles. Turn right onto U.S. 301 North and go 11 miles. Turn right onto Highway 16 and go 25 miles. The school is at 2025 Highway 16 West in Green Cove Springs. ADMISSION: $5
AT STAKE: A region championship and one of four berths in the state tournament May 8-10 at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa.
THE SKINNY: River Ridge's record-setting season could have been even better, if you can imagine that, since both losses were by one run and came in midseason tournament finals. The Royal Knights have enjoyed home-field advantage in two region playoff wins, which followed two district victories at home. It could get treacherous on the road with Clay gunning for a return to the state finals. Last year, the Blue Devils beat Bartow 2-1 for a state title. River Ridge has had to come from behind for its two playoff wins, 4-2 over Central and 5-1 over Orange Park Ridgeview. Clay has had an easier road, defeating Daytona Beach Seabreeze 12-2 and Springstead 2-0.
-- STEVE LEE
WHO: Pasco (14-14) vs. Bartow (30-2)
WHAT: Class 3A, Region 3 final
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today
WHERE: Bartow High School
DIRECTIONS: From Dade City, take U.S. 98 south about 35 miles, past Interstate 4 and Lakeland. Once in Bartow, go south on S Broadway Avenue. The school is just past Stuart Street.
ADMISSION: $5
AT STAKE: A region championship and one of four berths in the state tournament May 8-10 at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa.
THE SKINNY: Bartow has been to the final four each of the past five seasons and nine times since 1990, winning state championships in 1997 and 2000. Pasco's lone trip came in 1994, when the Pirates beat Osceola and Citrus but lost to Naples in the semifinals.
-- GREG AUMAN