Parade gives winless Gulf a little respite

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Sure, Gulf is the county's lone winless team. But it has something no other team has: a float in the Chasco Fiesta Street Parade.

That's right: a float built in the form of a softball diamond complete with a backstop and rotating softball up front.

All 30 varsity and junior varsity players will ride the float or walk alongside, tossing beads to the crowd during Saturday's parade that begins at 1 p.m.

"It's a character and morale builder," first-year coach Rick Hohenthaner said. "I'm trying to create some excitement for the girls and for their parents."

Hohenthaner also plans for Gulf to host an annual Chasco Fiesta tournament that would begin next season. The float also would be part of Chasco's annual festivities.

As for this season, the Buccaneers, who were not scheduled to play in a tournament, became a late addition to the Rams Classic after Springstead pulled out this month.

The Bucs are banged up; eight of 15 varsity players have missed games to injuries. That forced Hohenthaner to call up junior varsity players Amber Bencaz, Dana Bennett and Ashley Orlando before Tuesday's 17-2 loss to Land O'Lakes.

UNBEATEN NO MORE: River Ridge, a state finalist last season, fell from the unbeaten ranks with Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Mitchell.

"It was a big one," Mitchell coach Scott Bisbe said. "They're a great team, no doubt.

"What I've been saying all along is our girls, the way they've been playing, they're a good, solid team all around."

The Mustangs snapped a tie at 2 in their last at-bat. With out out in the seventh, Michele McDonald tripled to the gap in right-center. She scored the winner on an errant relay.

McDonald, who is struggling with a .194 average, drove in Mitchell's other runs with a double and a groundout.

"She broke out (Tuesday) night and started hitting the ball like she used to," Bisbe said.

OFFENSIVE OFFENSE: Ridgewood has scored 12 in five games, surprising to coach Greg Bollinger who predicted his offense would be more productive.

"We're not an offensive juggernaut so far," Bollinger said. "We're leaving a lot of people on base. We're not getting the two-out hits."

On the other side, two of pitcher Breanne Hill's three wins are by shutout.

"Bre's kept us in the games," Bollinger said.

AN ALMOST WIN: Following one-run losses to Springstead (1-0) and Hernando (7-6), Hudson was on the verge of victory in its third and final game of the week, but rain suspended the March 7 game at Mitchell with the Cobras leading 3-1.

That contest will be continued April 3 at Hudson with the Mustangs at bat in the fifth with no outs and a runner on first.

"It's just our luck," Hudson coach Jim Johnson lamented. "We have two one-run losses that week and get rained out when we're leading. That's Hudson luck."

Swarna Kumar will return to the mound when the Mitchell game is continued. Kumar pitched all three games that week and allowed an unearned run against the Mustangs.

"She was getting stronger," Johnson said.

With Hudson third baseman Jennifer Strawser out with a knee injury, freshman Jillian Heise started Tuesday's game against Tarpon Springs at the hot corner.

-- Compiled by Steve Lee.

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