CLASS 2A: SPC's early baserunning errors leave door open for Lake Highland Prep.
By JOHN C. COTEY
Published May 9, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - Michelle Grinage dominated St. Petersburg Catholic last year in the region quarterfinals, but Thursday afternoon, the Lake Highland Prep senior had trouble keeping the Barons off the basepaths.
Unfortunately for SPC, its coaches had trouble keeping the Barons on the basepaths.
A pair of crucial baserunning errors early prevented SPC from taking advantage of its live bats, and the defending state champion Highlanders and Grinage recovered to post a 5-1 win in the region semifinal. Coach Tom Fabian blamed poor baserunning, but in both cases, third base coach Bubba Vidal waved runners into rally-killing outs.
The first came in the first inning when Alicia Fudge was sent around to try and score on Denise Behers' run-scoring double but was thrown out by 5 feet. Instead of runners on second and third with one out and No.5 hitter Lauren Timberlake batting, the Barons fizzled.
In the third, it was Fudge again being waved around, this time to third. But Fudge had to stop between first and second to make sure Brittany Stahl's short popup dropped in, and then she came to a complete stop at second before looking up to see Vidal calling her over. Fudge never had a chance, and cleanup hitter Behers popped out to end the threat.
"One or two plays like that can really take it out of a team," said Lake Highland Prep coach Larry Boyce. "They had a good chance to stick it to us."
Grinage (15-5) was grateful. Suffering from the flu, she wasn't her usual sharp self and gave up nine hits. She said she thinks because of last year's game, SPC was trying to compensate with overaggressiveness.
Neither team scored after Behers' double until the fifth, when the Highlanders (19-5) scored on a triple and single to make it 2-1.
In the seventh, the Barons (22-3) couldn't keep it close. The Highlanders scored three runs without a hit, fueled by two errors and a wild pitch. Inexplicably, SPC kept its infield back with runners on second and third and no outs, trailing 3-1. That allowed Lake Highland to score its final two runs on groundouts to second base.
Angela Vidal (21-2) took the loss, despite a well-pitched effort spoiled by defensive mistakes. She allowed seven hits and two earned runs while striking out 10. She also went 3-for-4 with a double and a run.
