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DAWN REISSThe 13- to 14-year-old softball team is shut out by Georgia and falls a victory short of the tournament semifinals.
Crystal River Junior Softball (13-14) fell short in a must-win situation Monday night against Georgia (Warner-Robbins American) in the Southern Region Tournament in Fort Myers. Strong pitching held Crystal River to two hits in a 3-0 defeat.
After starting 1-1 in pool play, Crystal River had to win to reach today's semifinals. The winner of this tournament will play in the Little League World Series.
Crystal River pitcher Cassidy Rash tried to make a play at the plate and the first baseman missed the ball, allowing Georgia to score two runs in the second inning.
"They never gave up." Crystal River coach Mike Rash said. "The girls made a bad mistake in the second inning but they collected themselves and got the next two batters out and played good softball."
Georgia used three pitchers, including closer Kristin Graham who threw 65 mph.
In the bottom of the sixth inning pitcher Cassidy Rash and catcher Brittany Cummins of Crystal River were thrown out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Mike Rash said the plate umpire claimed that Cassidy Rash threw at him and Cummins made no attempt to catch the ball.
Up to that point, Rash allowed only one hit and struck out 10.
SENIOR BASEBALL: Dade City clinched first place in Pool B of the Southern Region at Toccoa, Ga., by defeating Georgia 14-1. Dade City already had clinched a place in today's semifinals, where it faces one of three teams (North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia), to be decided via tiebreaker.