Preps

Clutch hits, solid pitching keep Plant perfect

TAMPA -- Plant coach Sallie Scudder has used a different starting lineup in all nine games this season, not because of inconsistency or injury, but due to the wealth of talent up and down the roster.

So far, so good.

Freshman Chrissy Clingan drove home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Plant (9-0) remained perfect, defeating district rival Sickles 3-1 at the Gryphons' home field.

"(Being undefeated) is definitely exciting," Scudder said. "But that's not something we're really focusing on right now. We can't get wrapped up in the record because it's past tense."

Plant, which defeated Sickles 3-0 earlier this season, swept the series with the Gryphons. When asked if Sickles was the toughest district challenge for Plant, Scudder didn't hesitate.

"Absolutely, without a doubt," she said.

Megan Menard tossed a one-hit complete game, striking out four while surrendering one unearned run. Theresa Marotta's stand-up triple in the third was all that stood between Menard and a no-hitter.

"The biggest thing with Megan is that she knows her role," Scudder said. "Her role isn't to go in and dominate a ballgame and strike out a lot of batters. We want her to make the hitter hit our pitch and play good defense."

Sickles took a 1-0 lead in the fourth despite not getting a hit. Ashley Trent reached on a Lauren Rodriguez error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Brittany Beaudoin's grounder to short again skipped under the glove of Rodriguez, scoring Trent.

"I was a little rattled (after the two errors)," Menard said. "But I came back and regained focus and settled down."

Scudder pinch-hit Erin Boggs for Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth and the junior delivered, chopping a ball over the head of Trent at third. Rodriguez then re-entered the game to run for Boggs and stole second. Margaret Person's dribbler toward second should have ended the inning, but first baseman Jackie Leppla couldn't handle Alex Jones' throw, allowing Rodriguez to cross the plate with the tying run.

"The toughest thing in softball to do is come in and pinch-hit," Scudder said. "But this team has no ego and they all know their roles."

Then with Dusten Minardi on second in the top of the seventh, Clingan turned on an 0-2 fastball, driving Minardi in with a triple down the leftfield line. Clingan later came home on a past ball, rounding out the scoring.

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