ST. PETERSBURG - Dixie Hollins continued its turnaround with a 3-0 victory over Boca Ciega on Wednesday.
Jessica Thomas earned the win and added a run-scoring triple in the fifth. On the next pitch, Shana Ottenbacher singled her home.
Dixie Hollins (3-1), which lost its second game 3-2 to Clearwater, has just three seniors who play a lot.
"We're young, but we actually have some experience," Rebels coach Lynn Keiser said. "We were 7-15 last year, but these kids have been playing together a long time in summer league."
Morgan Hughart is a summer teammate of many Rebels but pitches for Boca Ciega (5-2). She was sharp, but her teammates' fielding hurt her in the second. Ashley Smith led off with a single to left.
After Hughart struck out the next two batters, Ashley Carr lined a single to center, advancing Smith to second. The next batter, Tiffany Swain, popped up to the pitcher's mound. Three Boca Ciega fielders converged on the ball, but it fell between them. Smith scored to make it 1-0.
