CLASS 5A: Countryside takes advantage of Naples Gulf Coast pitcher's speed to post shutout.
By LAURA LEE
Published May 9, 2003
CLEARWATER - Countryside coach Kaylyn Bayly doesn't think it was a waste of time.
She booked it to Naples to scout Gulf Coast after the Cougars' region quarterfinal game Tuesday. But in Thursday's region semifinal at Misty Springs, Clearwater Recreational Center, the player that made the biggest impression on her didn't even take the mound.
The surprise hardly threw the Cougars (22-5) off their game. They beat Gulf Coast 4-0 in to advance to Saturday's region final against Naples.
Thanks to an early start (4 p.m.) and quick finish because of the 10-run rule in the Cougars' 10-0 win against Northeast, Bayly and her staff had time to drive to Naples and catch the Sharks' region quarterfinal - a nine-inning 1-0 win over Bradenton Lakewood Ranch.
It was pitcher Monica Funigiello that stood out. Bayly said she had speed and good movement, but because of shoulder surgery last year, Funigiello needed to rest and didn't pitch. Instead, the Sharks (19-21) went with their No.2, junior Haley MacDonald, who gave up four runs on five hits in five innings.
Facing a slower MacDonald, the Cougars started fast with a lead-off single from Jenna Schrecongost. Kit Dunbar was next up and next on base because of a bad throw to first, and Schrecongost advanced to third on the error. Kallan Casey brought in Schrecongost on a groundout to the shortstop, and Dunbar stole home on a wild pitch. The Cougars led 2-0 after one.
While Countryside scored two more in the third, Bayly said she hoped the team could have finished stronger.
"I think we kind of slacked off a little bit," Bayly said. "You get on top of somebody, you keep going at them and finish the game."
Bree Spence got the win for the Cougars. She allowed four hits and had 11 strikeouts.
"I knew we had our hands full," said Gulf Coast coach Tim Speakman, whose team lost to Countryside 6-0 in last year's region semifinal. "But I have to tip my hat to (Spence). She pitched a whale of a game."
