Errors get the best of previously unbeaten River Ridge, which falls hard, 11-1, to Mitchell.
By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer
Published February 25, 2006
NEW PORT RICHEY - Mitchell could have - and probably should have - gone down in order in the top of the first inning of Friday's game at River Ridge.
Instead of a 1-2-3, however, an infield popup that dropped between first baseman Casey Soltys and second baseman Meghan Chaple, misplayed fly ball by leftfielder Athena Theodosis and error by shortstop Shauna Ward set the stage for two unearned runs.
It got uncharacteristically worse for the Royal Knights, who had not lost before Mitchell's 11-1 win.
River Ridge (3-1) made six errors and Mitchell (6-2) scored seven unearned runs in a game that ended after six innings by the 10-run mercy rule.
"Three outs and they got two runs," River Ridge coach Ernie Beck said of the first-inning miscues. "It's early in the season and we've got a lot of work.
"We weren't ready," Beck added. "I told them it was a focus issue. Hopefully, it's a wake-up call."
Mitchell coach Scott Bisbe, whose team has had numerous close games against Beck's Knights, did not expect an outcome like Friday's.
"It's always a battle with them," Bisbe said. "They'll be fine. It's early and they'll bounce back."
Olivia Kline (2-1) tossed a three-hitter for the win. Kline struck out four, walked one and did not allow a hit until Ward's one-out double in the fourth. Ward scored River Ridge's lone run on a wild pitch.
Nicole Denney (3-1), who allowed nine hits, took the loss. She fanned three and walked two.
Courtney Stager, Amanda Graham and Tenisha Dixon each scored two runs for the Mustangs. Stager and Dixon each had two hits, and Graham hit a triple. Teammate Layne Spencer also had an extra-base hit, a run-scoring double in Mitchell's three-run second.
"We hit the ball well for a change," Bisbe said. "I've been waiting for that."
