Errors end Cambridge's title hopes

Defending state champion lacks a clean game in falling 4-1 to Sheridan Hills Christian.

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published May 9, 2006

PLANT CITY - Following Monday's 4-1 loss to Hollywood Sheridan Hills Christian in the state semifinals at Plant City Stadium, the voice of Cambridge coach Steve Gonzalez cracked as he tried to describe his team's effort. To his left, shortstop Brittany Williams, a senior making her fifth trip to the final four, spoke of the hurt in knowing her prep career was over as a tear ran down her cheek. A foot or so away, senior catcher Valerie Kessel consoled red-eyed freshman pitcher Alexis Caruso with a bear hug that lasted for what seemed like a minute.

To each, the season's end seemed so incredibly surreal.

"We feel like we should be playing again tomorrow," Williams said.

That the Lancers won't came as somewhat of a shock to many. Cambridge not only held the edge in tradition (it owns a three championships to none lead), but in experience. Four players for the senior-laden Lancers had participated in three or more final fours.

On Monday, though, none of that mattered.

Simply put, this game was about fielding. Sheridan Hills Christian (17-7) was flawless with the glove. Cambridge (21-5), which committed seven errors, was not.

"They were the turning point in the game," Gonzalez said.

Errors played a part in every Sharks run, which offset a solid performance in which Caruso allowed only three hits. The low point for Cambridge came in the fifth, when it booted four balls.

"It just kind of snowballed," Gonzalez said.

The Lancers also had trouble at the plate and finished with an uncharacteristically low three hits that came in the team's first three at-bats.

By then, the Lancers led 1-0 and appeared poised to run away with the game before some fans even had taken their seats. But after a fielder's choice, Sheridan Hills Christian pitcher Gabby Tufano, an eighth-grader, induced Cambridge into a double play to escape further damage.

Though at times Cambridge hit the ball hard, it created only a few serious scoring threats in the remaining innings. The Lancers can thank the Sharks for that. Sheridan Hills Christian not only made every routine defensive play, but produced a handful of leaping catches that thwarted any chance of a Cambridge rally.

"We were very fortunate," Sheridan Hills Christian coach Eric Spee said. "The balls seemed to be hit right at us."

[Last modified May 9, 2006, 00:42:06]