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Scrivens is dazzling at short
By FRANK PASTOR BROOKSVILLE -- Scottisha Scrivens remembers watching ground balls go by and thinking, "Oh, I can't get that." Now, she thinks, "Time to get dirty." Since moving from third base to shortstop to help shore up a middle infield decimated by the graduation of shortstop Kimi Olmstead and second baseman Kristi Langworthy's move to catcher, the Hernando senior has been amazed at how much her range has increased. "I told (Angie Svagerko) she was the first coach that ever got me in the dirt and diving," Scrivens said. "I've seen I can get to a lot of balls if I hustle." Scrivens was uncertain about the move at first. She had not played shortstop regularly since middle school and considered herself a third baseman. But when Langworthy moved to catcher, the Leopards needed a shortstop. Scrivens, the half-sister of Central Florida baseball standout Dee Brown and cousin of Florida women's basketball star Bernice Mosby, emerged as the leading candidate, Svagerko said, after "messing around" at the spot in practice. In Friday's 4-3 loss to Dunnellon, Scrivens dove for a ball hit up the middle, spun on her knees and threw out a runner at first. She has pulled off similar feats -- which Svagerko calls "spin-around plays" -- on at least three occasions this season. "She can get to any ball, knock anything down, and she has a great glove, so I felt really confident moving her over there," Svagerko said. "That was huge for us to be able to move her over at shortstop, because we needed Langworthy behind the plate." Scrivens has played well enough to keep her position even though Langworthy recently moved back to second base. "I like Kristi; she's real good at second," Scrivens said. "I know that between me and her, no ball's going to drop to the ground." Unfortunately for Scrivens, few balls she has hit have dropped to the ground, either. She was swinging the bat well early in the season but has cooled off the past few weeks. Scrivens has been dropping her back shoulder, causing her to pop up, and lunging for the ball rather than keeping her weight on her back leg. Svagerko said she needs Scrivens, who bats fourth or fifth, and Langworthy to improve their hitting for Hernando to escape a slump during which the Leopards lost nine of 10 games and six consecutive entering Tuesday at Ocala West Port. "I think she's just got to get her stroke back and be more selective for what pitches she can drive and be a little bit more patient and hit the heck out of the ball," Svagerko said of Scrivens. Scrivens' struggles haven't been for a lack of trying. Svagerko said Scrivens does everything that is asked of her and is upbeat and encouraging around her younger teammates. "As far as being a leader, she's done a wonderful job," Svagerko said. Scrivens' softball days could be nearing an end. She was accepted at Pasco-Hernando Community College and hopes to enroll at the University of South Florida in two years. She plans to study nursing or psychology but does not expect to continue playing softball. "I've always enjoyed helping people," Scrivens said. Even if it means getting dirty. -- Frank Pastor can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com
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