Hurricanes break open a pitchers duel against Seminole to win the Dunedin Spring Invitational.
By LAURA LEE
Published March 21, 2004
DUNEDIN - Palm Harbor University was a step ahead of Seminole from the start.
While the Warhawks were stopped at the plate by junior pitcher Dani Hofer, the Hurricanes were at least getting bats on the ball, even if it was to simply ground out.
Both teams were doing a good job of shutting down each other, but it was just a matter of time before one broke through.
Saturday's Dunedin Spring Invitational championship game was scoreless until the sixth inning when the Hurricanes scored two runs on three hits to beat Seminole 2-0 at Louis A. Vanech Recreation Complex.
Sophomore Stephanie Loza started the Hurricanes' rally in the top of the sixth with a lead-off single to shallow centerfield. After Crystal Eubanks was hit by a pitch and a PHU fly-out, Hofer loaded the bases with a hard shot down the first base line. Freshman Elysha Agen drove in the winning run with a single to far leftfield. On the next at-bat, senior Beth Holmes grounded out, allowing PHU pinch runner Kelly Schwirian to score the second run.
Seminole pitcher Lisa Hasson held PHU to one hit through five innings and kept serving up ground-outs that couldn't make it out of the infield.
"She did a good job keeping the ball down," PHU coach Chuck Poetter said. "We thought if we kept putting the ball in play, we'd get to her."
Seminole (13-2) knew Hofer, who had 49 strikeouts in three tournament games, would be tough to hit. Hofer struck out the Warhawks in their first 13 at-bats and had 17 in the game.
"It usually takes a while to catch up to Dani," Hasson said. "And when we do, it's too late."
The Warhawks got on base in the sixth on a PHU (15-2) fielding error, but Hofer ended the inning by striking out the next two batters, stranding Jennifer Taeuber on first. Seminole's lone hit was from Hasson- a grounder through the first- and second-base gap in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and the bases empty. The game ended on the next at-bat, an infield pop-up.
The Warhawks had breezed through the tournament. They won three previous games by a combined 32-0.
PHU beat East Lake 2-0 in Saturday's semifinals.
Dunedin beat Boca Ciega 7-3 to take third place. Freshman Falcon Amber Ehlers pitched her first no-hitter in Dunedin's 4-0 semifinal win over Northeast to advance to the third-place game. The Pirates got by Dixie Hollins 1-0 for a chance at third place.
In the consolation game Dunedin led Bogie 3-0 until the seventh, when the Falcons scored four on four hits. Freshman Sarah Weech's triple brought in two, helping the Falcons blow it open.
The Dunedin tournament, which used to be a 30-plus team event, was revived this season after a short hiatus. Dunedin coach Tom Ward said the school had trouble in years past finding venues to field games. Although only 10 teams, all public schools from Pinellas County, competed this year, Ward said the tournament can again expand.
