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Mitchell earns first playoff win

The Mustangs give up early lead but bounce back to beat Springstead and are eager for more.

TRINITY - Less than a week after lamenting his team's failure to rally in a 10-0 loss to River Ridge, Mitchell coach Scott Bisbe lauded his team for coming through in the clutch Tuesday.

Mitchell (19-10) took an early lead in the Class 4A, Region 2 quarterfinal, but Springstead tied it at 4. In the fifth, Alicia Neelen doubled and scored on Carly Mitchell's sacrifice fly for a 5-4 win.

That gave the third-year team its first playoff win.

"We had soccer make it to the regionals this year and now softball following suit," Bisbe said. "Hopefully we can keep building, not just softball but all of the programs at Mitchell."

History aside, the 4A-8 runnerup aims to extend its playoff ride with a win in tonight's region semifinal at Palatka.

"Absolutely, we want more," Bisbe said. "It was a big win to get into the regions. Now, this is even bigger tonight."

A victory over Palatka and a River Ridge win over Ocala Vanguard, would lead to a rematch with the Royal Knights with a state tournament berth at stake. The district rivals split two one-run games before the Knights' lopsided win in the 4A-8 tournament.

"I'd love nothing better than to get another shot at River Ridge," said Bisbe, still bitter after the loss in the final. "It would be nice to go in there and pull that one out."

"We've had two real good games against Mitchell," River Ridge coach Ernie Beck said. "There's an outside chance we'll see them again."

For a rematch to occur, Mitchell's offense must come through like it did in the Springstead game. The Mustangs had nine hits, two each by Neelen and Ashley Boller, against the Eagles but managed three in the loss to River Ridge.

"We came out and hit the ball," Bisbe said.

"You've got to give them credit," Springstead coach Craig Swartout said. "They came out and played real solid defensively, and they swung the bats."

For the second straight game, Carly Mitchell came on in relief of starter Trish Blankenship. Mitchell allowed one hit in four innings to improve to 10-3.

"You have to feel confident or else you're not going to be successful," said Mitchell, a sophomore. "But I was a little nervous."

Admission for both games is $6.

WHEN: 7:30.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: 4A-8 runnerup Mitchell defeated 4A-7 champion Springstead 5-4; 4A-5 champion Palatka beat 4A-6 runnerup Port Orange Atlantic 3-1.

AT STAKE: A region final Saturday on the road against the Ocala Vanguard/River Ridge winner.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Third-year Mitchell won its first playoff game Tuesday.

WHEN: 7.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: 4A-6 champion Ocala Vanguard defeated 4A-5 runnerup Orange Park Ridgeview 9-0; 4A-8 champion River Ridge beat 4A-7 runnerup Lecanto 10-2.

AT STAKE: A region final Saturday at home against the Mitchell/Palatka winner.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: River Ridge, the state's second-ranked team in 4A, is coming off a state final appearance.

- Compiled by Steve Lee.