Little League

Virginia nips Bloomingdale

The Hillsborough County softball team just misses out on the World Series, losing 2-1 in the southern regional.

By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published August 4, 2005

GULFPORT - Despite a no-hitter from Jennifer Owens, Bloomingdale fell 2-1 to Virginia in eight innings in the final of the southern region tournament at Albert S. White Stadium on Wednesday.

Virginia shortstop Jamie Bell reached on an error with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and eventually scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the inning, Bloomingdale centerfielder Laura Swartz singled with one out but was left stranded at third.

"We had a couple opportunities and we didn't get it done," manager Jeff Carter said. "We got the game tied in the fifth and I really felt that we would find a way to get it done."

Both teams advanced easily through the semifinals, leaving a trip the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore., in the hands of their respective aces.

Neither disappointed.

Both Owens and Virginia starter Jilly Falle were dominant. Owens struck out eight and Falle fanned five. But Virginia, last year's World Series runnerup, put together a few runs the only way possible without any hits - by taking advantage of walks and errors.

Bell scored on a Bloomingdale throwing error to give Virginia a 1-0 lead in the first inning. After walking, she advanced to second on a bunt and bolted for third. First baseman Devyn White threw a ball well over third baseman Sophie Tarte's head, and Bell went around to score.

"That's (Virginia)," Carter said. "They scored in the first inning on a walk, a bunt and we throw it away. That's how they get their first run. The second run they get on a wild pitch with no hits. What can you say? Small ball."

Bloomingdale's run came in the fifth. Virginia's outfielders played shallow almost the entire game, daring Bloomingdale hitters to go deep. Owens was the first to make them pay with a triple over the head of the centerfielder.

With the outfield still in close to the infield two batters later, Bloomingdale shortstop McKenzie Carter hit a double to right-centerfield, scoring Owens to tie it.

Bloomingdale left runners on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

"We just didn't get another (run) to get the lead," Carter said. "Baseball, softball, doesn't matter. It's a game of inches.

"Call it whatever you want but this game is an emotional roller-coaster. We've got some girls that are pretty down."

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 01:05:20]