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Tampa Bay wins behind a one-hitter

TAMPA BAY 3, MICHIGAN 0: The team remains undefeated in the postseason and reaches the World Series semifinals.

By ANTHONY GAGLIANO
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 16, 2002

Tampa Bay remained perfect and pitcher Elizabeth Chesser almost was perfect.

The Junior softball team continued its undefeated run through the World Series on Thursday by defeating Central region champion Pinery Little League 3-0.

The victory earned Tampa Bay (4-0) the top seed in Pool B heading into the semifinals against host Kirkland, Wash., at 9 tonight.

"We need to finish," Tampa Bay coach Larry Rodriguez said. "We've started something here, but we need to finish this run."

Rodriguez's team is 19-0 in district, sectional, state, region and World Series play.

Chesser continued that streak by pitching a perfect game for 52/3 innings before a popup to second fell in for the only hit for the team from Wyoming, Mich. A walk and an error in the seventh gave Pinery hope, but Chesser, who struck out seven, got a fly ball to end the game.

"Elizabeth Chesser was just on," Rodriguez said. "She went three up and three down in the first on 11 pitches with two strikeouts, and other than the hit, she got three strikeouts in the sixth. She got even stronger as the game went on."

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the third when Lauren Rodriguez reached on an error and stole second. Tari Owi's single broke the scoreless tie.

Tampa Bay's fifth had an identical beginning. Rodriguez reached on an error and stole second before Lauren Castellvi bunted. On the play, the Pinery catcher overthrew third base trying to get Rodriguez, who scored Tampa Bay's second run as Castellvi advanced to second. Pinch-hitter Anslie Reed hit a double to score Castellvi for Tampa Bay's final run.

Tampa Bay's battle against Kirkland will be for the U.S. championship and a spot in Saturday's final against teams from either the Philippines or the Netherlands.

"The biggest obstacle will be that hometown crowd," Larry Rodriguez said. "The crowd can really do a lot for a team. It brings them momentum and makes them play harder and dig deeper. I don't want the crowd to intimidate us. We have to beat them on the field and take the crowd out of it."

Annie Pilger is scheduled to start against Kirkland. Pilger has been on the mound for most of Tampa Bay's postseason success, pitching in the six games before Thursday. Pilger has two wins and a save in the World Series in addition to a one-hitter in the state final and two no-hitters in the Southeast Regional.

Still, Rodriguez has tried to hide the headlines from his team as it prepares for two must-win games.

"I don't drag that out too much," Rodriguez said. "I don't want them to get too tight. I look at the talent on this team, and there's a great opportunity to be there (in the final)."

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