Cambridge gets only two hits but pulls out 1-0 victory
By Times Staff Writers
Published May 8, 2004
TAMPA - Defense is one of Cambridge's strengths. The ability to catch and throw to any base at any time and keep opposing runners off the bases.
The other strength is hitting. Or, perhaps more specifically, the ability of the Lancers to adapt their hitting.
Normally they can pound the ball. But, when the situation calls for it as it did Thursday against Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy, Cambridge proved it could play small ball.
The Lancers managed only two hits but they moved the ball around enough and their defense was tough enough to eke out a 1-0 win.
The Lancers will play the winner of Hernando Christian and Sante Fe Catholic on Tuesday.
Fittingly, the 1-0 victory was sweet revenge for the Lancers, who lost to Out-of-Door three years ago in the playoffs in a game that was called in the top of the fourth due to lightning. The Thunder led 1-0 at the time and the game was concluded with a Cambridge runner on first.
There would be no lightning Thursday, just plenty of breeze as Cambridge pitcher Samantha Becker and Out-of-Door pitcher Jordan Keen combined to strike out 22.
Neither team was able to mount much of an offensive.
Out-of-Door (12-7) had a runner thrown out at third in fourth inning, effectively killing one of its best opportunities. But the real killer came in the sixth when, trailing by one, Thunder catcher Emily Krouse tried to score from second on a single to left.
Cambridge's Kayla Adams came up with the ball cleanly and hit replacement catcher Brooke Curtis in plenty of time to cut Krouse down at the plate.
Cambridge's lone run came in the fifth when Adams secured a walk, stole second and scored on Valerie Kessel's bunt single when Krouse's throw to first was wide.
"We were going to make them make the play," Cambridge coach Raymond Tapia said. "The big compliment goes to their pitcher (Keen), she threw the ball as hard as anybody we've seen this year. We knew we had to play short ball, we just couldn't get around on her."
- MIKE READLING
3A: Errors cost Crusaders
FROSTPROOF - The cliche goes, "If you put the ball in play, good things will happen," and Frostproof did just that.
The Bulldogs used fumbling defense by Tampa Catholic in the fifth to win 3-1.
The first four innings were a pitchers' duel between Frostproof's Samantha Smith and the Crusaders' Rose Palamo.
There were only three hits combined.
"(Frostproof) put the ball in play," Tampa Catholic coach Jason Gordon said. "They made us play defense.
"Our defense has been our strong suit all year. It just was not tonight."
Tampa Catholic (12-12) took the lead when Nicole Readinger singled and scored on Ashley Carrera's grounder that second baseman Brittani Thomas misplayed. The ball rolled all the way to the fence.
Frostproof scored three in the bottom of the fifth, with only one ball hit cleanly. Yahtea Benton, Faith Franklin and Brittani Thomas scored on errors. Thomas hit a grounder to short and came all the way around on the error.
6A: Bulls move on
VALRICO - Allison Kime allowed only a walk and an unearned run in the second inning in leading Bloomingdale to a 4-1 win over Kissimmee Osceola.
The Bulls trailed 1-0 after two errors led to a run in the second. But two runs in the fourth and two in the sixth were more than enough.
"Everybody was pumped up. The Adrenalin was flowing, and our girls were just too excited in the beginning of the game," Bloomingdale coach Mike Clamon said. Kime struck out 16 Kowboys and closed out with 10 in a row and 11 of the final 12.
For the first three innings, neither team managed a hit.
Natalie Hord scored the only run for Osceola. After walking, she came home on two infield errors.
Kristin Maas started a two-run rally in the fourth by reaching on a walk.
Jasmine Rivera moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Kime brought her home on a single that dropped just behind the Osceola first baseman.
Kime rounded the bases on an error by the catcher, giving the Bulls a 2-1 lead.
With one out in the sixth, catcher Jasmine Rivera singled and moved to second on a grounder by Kime that was misplayed by the second baseman.
Tiffany Anderson brought them both home on a double.
- TERRY JONES
2A: Terrapins crushed
Tampa Prep ended its Class 2A playoff run in Naples with a 12-2 loss to the Community School of Naples. The Terrapins finished 12-8.
- SCOTT PURKS
A: Faith Warriors fall
Bayshore Christian drove more than an hour to Sarasota on Thursday then was quickly defeated 11-1 in a Class A region quarterfinal by Sarasota Christian. Bayshore ended its season 15-7 while Sarasota Christian improved to 8-5.
