The softball team outscores its opponents 52-7 in winning three games and reaching the Dixie World Series.
By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer
Published July 15, 2005
Five county teams weathered Hurricane Dennis last weekend in the Panhandle to compete for division titles in Dixie Softball League state tournaments.
Only the West Pasco Debs (ages 16-18) returned as champions.
By winning the first Debs state title for West Pasco since 1984, the team advances to the Dixie Softball World Series, which begins July 29 in Dothan, Ala.
West Pasco defeated East Pasco 13-3 in the Debs final at Chipley, a town near the Georgia border.
The two-time defending state champion West Pasco Angels (9-10), who did not reach the final, also played in Chipley.
The East Pasco Belles (13-15) and West Pasco Ponytails (11-12) played in state tournaments in Sneads, about 40 miles northeast of Chipley.
West Pasco Debs manager Al Marquis believed his players' ages might have factored into their success.
"Our girls are older," Marquis said.
"They understood what was happening. So unlike some of the other girls, the hurricane didn't bother them. They weren't nervous."
West Pasco outscored the opposition 52-7 in winning three games in large part due to a 31-0, five-inning defeat of Spring Hill in its opener. West Pasco also beat defending state champion Mulberry 8-4.
Pitchers Tricia Dobraski (2-0) and Samantha Cooper (1-0) combined for 24 strikeouts and just three walks during the tournament. Cooper earned the win over Mulberry and got defensive help from two double plays. Lisa Dobraski hit a grand slam in that contest.
West Pasco's Angels bowed out in three games. Pitcher Hannah Erickson had the lone win (7-5 over Chipley).
Cori Williams had a team-leading 10 hits in the tournament with Cassidy Guercio and Erickson each adding nine.
"I'm a little disappointed," West Pasco manager Frank Guercio said.
"But the girls had fun."
The West Pasco Ponytails split four games. They lost their opener 2-1 to eventual state champion Marianna then defeated Belleview 9-4 and DeSoto 6-4 before a 1-0 loss to Marianna.
In the Belleview game, West Pasco pitchers Hayley Davis, Katie Horn and Jordyn Garcia combined for 12 strikeouts. Kayla Whystell sparked the offense with two RBIs.
Horn, Garcia and Davis combined for 14 strikeouts against DeSoto.
In that contest, Auburn Cherry had a triple with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Hannah Gatley added a run-scoring double that brought home Ana Alberti.
