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JOHN SCHWARBCLASS 5A: Despite Dani Hofer's pitching, PHU falls 1-0 in 12 to Naples.
NAPLES - If good pitching wins games, perfection should have been enough for Palm Harbor U. Near-perfection could have gotten the job done, too.
But in the end, it was only more heartbreak.
For the second time in a week, PHU lost an extra-inning affair despite its dominant pitcher living up to the billing. But this time, after a 1-0 loss in 12 innings Thursday to Naples in a Class 5A, Region 3 semifinal, redemption must wait until next year.
For the second straight year, the Golden Eagles sent the Hurricanes home. Pitcher Ingrid Schumacher knocked in Kara Weigle in the bottom of the 12th, stealing a victory that should have belonged to Dani Hofer.
Hofer, PHU's star sophomore, owned a perfect game through seven innings and a no-hitter through nine but finally bowed ever so slightly to a lineup that did what her team could not - score one run.
"It's frustrating, but you keep thinking there's going to be the timely hit that's going to score the run because we just keep hitting (Schumacher)," said Hofer, who struck out 15 and allowed three hits. "You just keep thinking it."
PHU (26-4) had every reason to believe so. It had baserunners in eight of the 12 innings. Yet for each of the team's seven hits and two walks, there were corresponding missed bunts and other miscues. "(Naples) knows we're better. We know we are, too," PHU coach Chuck Poetter said. "But when you get to this level, you have to execute, and we didn't.
"We've been in an offensive funk for two weeks, and we've got girls that are not doing the things that they need to do."
PHU lost in 18 innings May 1 to Countryside in the district final, in which Hofer was overpowering until the final few innings. Against Naples (22-8), she did not allow a hit until the 10th.
After Cheyenne Jenks singled and Lauren Wald walked with two outs in the inning, Kolby Schooley nearly won the game with a deep drive to left-center that Stephanie Loza tracked down with a sprinting catch. It was the hardest ball hit off Hofer all night.
In the 12th, Weigle led off with a blooper to short right. Running the whole way, she turned it into a double. After a bunt moved her to third, Schumacher lofted a single over third that won it.