Preps
Bree Spence allows five hits and triples in two runs in Countryside's 5-1 victory against East Lake.
By ERIC MUSKATEVC
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2003
CLEARWATER -- Wednesday's practice ended with dirty shirts for Countryside after the team held a small talk about "effort," coach Kaylyn Bayly said.
Hosting East Lake on Thursday, though, the Cougars kept their jerseys clean, handling the Eagles 5-1.
"We haven't been playing all that well lately," Bayly said. "We're still a good team. And they responded well at practice, and we improved a little (Thursday)."
On the mound, ace Bree Spence (6-2) was perfect for four innings and finished with three strikeouts, allowing just one run on five hits. At the plate, Spence drove in the game's first two runs in the first with a triple that scored Kit Dunbar and Kallan Casey.
"She doesn't feel like she has the confidence because she doesn't believe she's having the success she had last year," Bayly said. "We ask her to do a lot though, and she is trying some new things."
Amanda O'Dell (3-2) started for East Lake (7-4). She up three runs in the first two innings before she was replaced by Ally May, who would have started but is battling slight tendonitis.
May went three innings, giving up two runs in the third inning, before O'Dell returned in the sixth.
The Eagles scored in the fifth. Erin Pollack led off with a double and scored on Gabby Young's single.
Spence went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs for Countryside (10-2). Rachelle Boucher went 2-for-3 for East Lake.
"We are improving," East Lake coach Bob Hudson said. "Last time, we struck out 10 times, and (Thursday), we only struck out three times. We are just looking for improvement."