District 4 tournament gets in three first-round games Monday, two days after postponements.
By STEVE LEE
Published June 25, 2003
BROOKSVILLE - The Dixie Softball League's District 4 tournament finally began Monday, two days after rain postponed opening games.
Two West Pasco teams and one East Pasco squad won first-round contests in the double-elimination series at Tom Varn Park.
"It was great (to finally play)," East Pasco Belles (ages 13-15) manager Mike Mills said. "My girls were psyched up, disappointed; psyched up, disappointed."
East Pasco capitalized on a break in the inclement weather by clobbering Spring Hill 12-1. East Pasco had five hits but reached often on walks and errors.
"Hopefully, (Monday's victory) keeps my girls psyched up," Mills said. "We hope to give a good run for districts and states."
Winning pitcher Rebecca Lane and Ashley Buntyn combined on a one-hitter. Lane gave up a hit with five strikeouts and two walks. Buntyn struck out three and walked four.
East Pasco scored five in the fourth. Kayla Counsel's two-run double highlighted that inning.
Counsel, who had the game's only extra-base hit, and Bethany Wiltrot, who walked twice, each scored twice.
Haven Mills had two hits with Amanda Clancy and Lane each contributing one.
In the other Belles game, West Pasco defeated Hernando 8-4.
"They played extremely well for very little practice," West Pasco manager Gary Dobraski said.
Starter Meagan Novotny pitched five innings, allowing one run and striking out four with no walks, for the win.
Patricia Dobraski pitched two innings in relief.
West Pasco sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six in the first. Erin Campbell hit a two-run double with Carin Mock and Meagan Novotny adding run-scoring singles.
In the most lopsided game, the West Pasco Angels (ages 8-10) routed East Pasco 35-0 in a game ended after four innings due to the mercy rule.
Pitchers Jenny Karl, Katie Horn and Dani Schulman combined on a no-hitter. Karl (two doubles) and Schulman (a double and single) also were among a host of players sparking the offense.
Ana Alberti had two doubles and a single, Auburn Cherry doubled twice and Jordan Garcia doubled and singled.
Melissa Morlan and Sara Hill each doubled and Hayley Davis singled.
The Ponytails (11-12) series began Tuesday with East Pasco facing Hernando and West Pasco taking on Spring Hill. Winners of all three divisions advance to the state tournament.
