Little League

Citrus Park nabs berth in semifinals

By TERRY JONES
Published August 12, 2005

Facing elimination from the Senior Softball World Series, the Citrus Park team had to win Tuesday night and Wednesday or go home.

Tuesday's game was rained out and Citrus Park played a doubleheader Wednesday night at Lower Sussex, Del. The players were ready.

"The rainout was good for us," Citrus Park assistant coach Al Bowman said. "Our girls have a lot of endurance and the longer they play, the better they get, even if it goes on into the night."

In Game 1 Wednesday, Citrus Park shut out Central Indiana 5-0, then followed up with a 3-0 win over Southwest Texas.

Alyesse Stapf pitched the first four innings against Indiana and Khrystyne Ely closed out the final three. Between the two, they allowed only two hits and threw 13 strikeouts.

Offensively, Kristen Martin hit an RBI double. Morgan Grove and Ely each hit RBI singles.

Stapf came back to start on the mound in the second game and pitched four innings. Grove relieved her in the fifth. Between them they pitched a no-hitter, striking out 16 and giving up two walks.

Katie Schafheimer started the scoring in the first inning with a two-run single. Kristen Martin drove in the final score with a one-run double in the second.

"Our pitching has been the talk of the tournament," Bowman said.

Citrus Park plays a semifinal game today at 5:30. The final is Saturday at 3:30.

[Last modified August 12, 2005, 00:47:15]