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Grit, grime part of Gators' game

Diving after wayward balls is all part of a day's work for fearless sophomores Alexis Aubuchon, Alex Carroll.

By STEVE LEE
Published March 31, 2006

LAND O'LAKES - Alexis Aubuchon and Alex Carroll like to get down and dirty - all the time.

Whether it's in a game or at practice, the right-side tandem of the Land O'Lakes infield usually is a mess. As in dirty uniforms from diving for grounders.

"They are like two kids with the dirtiest jerseys," Land O'Lakes coach Jamie Martin said. "They're constantly diving for the ball."

Martin thought more of the sophomore infielders and added fearless to their traits: "I can hit a ball at them as hard as I can and they're going to stay in front of it."

"She expects a lot out of us and she hits (grounders and line drives) to us really hard," Carroll said. "You've got to practice like you play, so if you're going to dive in the dirt during a game you should do it in practice. We act like it's like a game."

Added Aubuchon: "We know we definitely have to work for each other. If one of us misses a ball we're going to be there to back each other up."

Aubuchon and Carroll are second-year starters and, barring an unforeseen position switch or spectacular challenger, will remain fixtures at first and second base, respectively, for two more seasons.

"They work really well together because they're good friends and they're very confident players," Martin said. "Even as freshmen they came in confident, so to step in was very easy. They're just going to get better. I can't see anyone taking their positions away."

Aubuchon took over at first base for Andy Babij, a sophomore first baseman at Pasco-Hernando Community College.

Carroll's emergence led to former all-Sunshine Athletic Conference second baseman Samantha Cronk, now an infielder at Western Kentucky, switching to centerfield.

Aside from steady, sometimes spectacular, fielding, both are solid hitters.

As a freshmen, Aubuchon batted .468 with 23 runs and 20 RBIs while tying for the county lead in triples with five and finishing second with 10 doubles. Carroll hit .343 and stole nine bases.

Their bats remain hot. Aubuchon led the county in hitting last week with a .607 average and this week is second at .528. Carroll is hitting .360.

"They don't strike out much," Martin said. "They have awesome hand-eye coordination and that really helps them out a lot."

Batting third has helped Aubuchon drive in a team-high 14 runs. She also has scored 15 times, second to teammate Kim Hensley.

A right-handed batter who hits mostly toward rightfield, Aubuchon "is a very good situational hitter," Martin said.

Carroll has batted sixth, but lately hits ninth and is considered by Martin as the team's second leadoff hitter.

"She's a good fastball hitter," Martin said, noting most pitchers figure they can blow fastballs past a batter lower in the order.

The work ethic of Aubuchon and Carroll carry over to the classroom.

Both are excellent students - Aubuchon is zoned for Mitchell and Carroll for Wesley Chapel - who attend Land O'Lakes for its international baccalaureate program. Before practices or games, they sometimes study in the press box overlooking the softball field.

Like Aubuchon, Carroll can't wait to get dirty once she has caught up on her studies.

"I love fielding," Carroll said. "I'm a bit more confident with it (than hitting) and it's just so much fun diving for everything."

[Last modified March 31, 2006, 01:09:18]