Citrus Park has the makeup to win the close games that make teams champions. The team bunts often and complements that with superb pitching and defense.
That's what made the team state Senior softball champion, but manager Marisol Hester wouldn't mind watching her team cut loose at regionals. The seven-team, double-elimination tournament starts Saturday in Vienna, Va. Citrus Park opens against South Carolina.
"Actually, we prefer to hit," Hester said. "When we've got to (bunt) to win, we'll do whatever. But we've got a lot of girls who can hit."
Citrus Park beat Pinellas Park 5-0 in the state title game, doing most of the damage with a four-run second. However, it needed just two hits. Megan Baker and Shannon Federico led off with singles and Citrus Park put the pressure on the Pinellas Park defense. A pair of bunts moved the runners and, combined with a couple of errors, provided all the offense Citrus Park would need.
Which isn't to say Citrus Park can't put runs on the board. Holly Cristello hit a grand slam in Citrus Park's 14-2 win in the state tournament opener, and the team outscored opponents 39-8.
"We're like the Buccaneers," Hester said. "Our offense finally caught up to our defense."
Ashleigh Grove threw back-to-back shutouts. She went the distance against Pinellas Park and walked one batter. That followed a complete game in a 6-1 win against DeBary. The team also got strong relief work from Erika San Juan in the first meeting with Pinellas Park. She entered the game after two batters and went the rest of the way in a 5-3 victory.
"Let me tell you how I work," Hester said. "I let all six of my pitchers warm up, and I go with the one that's on. At any given second they can start or come in. If Ashleigh or whoever is on, I'll leave them in. But if they're not, I pull them right away because there's not enough time to let them figure it out."
