Pirates get help to beat Panthers

By LARRY BUGG
Published March 30, 2005

LECANTO - Cassidy Rash struck out 13 and Crystal River took advantage of five Lecanto errors for a 7-1 win on Tuesday.

Ashley Clark scored three runs for Crystal River (7-3, 7-1 in Class 4A, District 9), and Rash improved to 7-1.

Lecanto (2-10, 1-5) scored its only run in the first. Sam King was hit on the knee by a pitch. Billie Starkey followed with a double, and Nikki Pontius singled to score King.

Lecanto starter Allee Savage pitched the first three innings, allowing only one run. In the third, Clark walked, stole second and scored when Ashley Bullion reached on an error.

Rash allowed five hits, walked two and struck one.

"As the game continues to go on, I keep warming up and I continue to get stronger," Rash said. "The (defense) made some awesome plays behind me. Every time (the opponents) make an error, our team seems to capitalize on it."

Savage did not allow a hit, striking out six, walking two and hitting one.

"(Savage) did a great job," Lecanto coach Amy Lilley said. "It's errors that are killing us."

The Pirates scored three in the fifth against Pontius to take the lead. Clark and Quincy Wilson singled, and Bullion reached on an error. Two more errors led to two runs, and Bullion scored on Ja'Vonna Grimsley's sacrifice fly.

Amber Clark struck out to lead off the sixth but reaching on a wild pitch. She later scored on a passed ball.

Ashley Clark led off the seventh with a walk, and Wilson followed with her second hit of the game. Clark scored on Bullion's single, and Wilson, 2-for-4 with two runs, scored on another error.

Crystal River coach Justin Wentworth said he believed his team was rusty.

"We came out and didn't hit the ball well," he said. "We had (only) a couple of practices over spring break. It showed.

"(Rash) battles. Nobody is going to baby her. She comes to play."

[Last modified March 30, 2005, 01:04:14]