Pasco-Hernando CC blanks its way into conference race
By Times Staff
Published April 12, 2005
NEW PORT RICHEY - Three shutouts in the past four games has Pasco-Hernando Community College in the middle of the Suncoast Conference race.
The Conquistadors (21-12, 8-5 in conference play) are third among five conference teams. They split Friday's doubleheader with St. Petersburg College - a 3-0 win and 3-2 loss - before defeating Lake Sumter 6-0 and 3-0 in Saturday's doubleheader.
"We're right where we want to be, right in the thick of it," PHCC coach Tom Ryan said. "We've got good rhythm right now."
All of PHCC's 10 remaining games are against conference foes, which gives the team a shot at the top seed in the postseason tournament.
Finishing among the top two teams in that tourney would mean a return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2002.
"Seriously, that's the furthest thing from my mind," Ryan said.
Pitcher Sarah Anderson had two of PHCC's three weekend shutouts to improve to a team-leading 11-4. Anderson has pitched six of the team's eight shutouts.
Niki Bradshaw (4-1) pitched in the second win against Lake Sumter and Cassie Pearson (Crystal River) took the loss against St. Petersburg to drop to 3-3.
In the first game against St. Petersburg, Nakendra Jones tripled in Krysti DiMartino and scored on a sacrifice fly by Crissy Carter (Hernando).
Jones also drove in DiMartino with a sacrifice fly in the 3-0 win over Lake Sumter. Jones shares the team stolen base lead of 17 with April Slate (Land O'Lakes) and her 17 RBIs are tied for second with Ebony Williams .
Slate, whose .354 average is second to team leader DiMartino's .368, went 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the 6-0 win.
TEN IS ENOUGH: The PHCC baseball team snapped its string of 10 losses on Friday with a 3-1 win at Polk. That followed Wednesday's 8-0 home loss to Polk.
The Conquistadors (21-23, 6-14) have split the past two series, including Saturday's 8-1 loss at Lake Sumter and Monday's 9-8 home win in the rematch.
Mike Diaz (Springstead) helped stop PHCC's skid with a complete game against Polk.
In nine innings, the freshman right-hander scattered seven hits and allowed one earned run, striking out six and walking three to improve to 4-3.
Jonathan Richardson 's 11-game hitting streak ended in the shutout loss against Polk. Richardson had a 12-game string earlier this season.
On a brighter note, Richardson is one stolen base shy of the school's single-season record of 34 set by Andrew Beattie in 1997.
A sophomore leadoff hitter, Richardson already owns the career mark with 50. Earlier this season, he surpassed Robbie Rowe 's previous career-high of 41.
THE LIST: Former Pasco and PHCC standout Lee Cruz has provided an offensive spark for seventh-ranked Tampa, and made the SSC commissioner's list for March.
In 19 games for the Spartans, the junior infielder batted .368 with nine home runs, 35 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Of Cruz's 28 hits, 14 went for extra bases to give him am .816 slugging percentage.
ALL-STARS: PHCC hosts a boys basketball game for high school seniors from Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties Thursday night at 7. Admission to the game at the New Port Richey campus gym is $3.
CAMP: PHCC is organizing a team softball camp, April 26-30 at the New Port Richey campus. Cost is $250 per team. For more information, call Ryan at (727) 816-3361.
