Preps

Warriors get back in race

SEMINOLE -- A throw behind a runner breaking for home and a booted ground ball is all it took to alter the pecking order in south county.

Taking advantage of errors from a Northeast team that has dominated south county since 2001, Osceola pulled out a 3-1 win in a key Pinellas County Athletic Conference game.

The Warriors could end up in a three-way tie for first in the PCAC's South Division with Gibbs and Northeast if the Gladiators beat the Vikings next week.

"I knew we were a good team, but a lot of times errors would beat us," Osceola coach Bill Rasmussen said. "But the last couple of games we've been playing big against good teams."

In the past two weeks, Osceola (11-6 overall, 4-1 PCAC) lost by three to Countryside and one to East Lake, and this time got over the hump by playing solid defense behind starting pitcher Michelle Tatlock.

Northeast (10-4, 3-1) got one run in the first when leadoff hitter Lynn Footlick reached on a single, took second on a passed ball and scored on a double by Brittany Tuliano. It was the Vikings' only run, though not for a lack of opportunities.

Northeast stranded eight runners on base in the game, and early on Osceola also left runners stranded. One finally scored in the fourth when Tatlock singled in Amber Lanese to tie the game, then the winning runs came in the sixth thanks to Northeast miscues.

With runners on first and third and no outs, Kayla Griffith grounded to first, where Northeast's Michelle Maillard fielded and eyed Jenna Pine wandering off third. Pine stopped between third and home, but was able to score when Maillard threw to third.

The next two hitters were retired, then Tatlock hit a grounder to second that should have ended the inning. But it was booted by Haley Forsyth, allowing Lanese to score.

"Stuff that we've done all season, they just didn't bring with them today," Northeast coach Andy Scarmack said.

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