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No deficit too large for champion Southwest

By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published June 25, 2006

Southwest beat Northeast for the second time in the 9-10 All-Star Softball Tournament on Saturday, winning 12-9 to capture the District 5 Championship at Helen Howarth Park in Pinellas Park.

Southwest overcame an 8-2 deficit in the third inning to win the title. It was the second time in this tournament Southwest trailed by a large margin and won. Southwest overcame a 9-4 deficit to Pinellas Park National in the second round before winning 11-10.

"This team is just persistent and full of tenacity," manager Carl Eisenbrei said. "You could just see the light bulb go on with each practice and getting brighter and brighter."

Jade Caswell picked up the win, striking out three in six innings. Catcher Kayleigh Wilson and Caswell each had two hits Saturday.

Down by four in the fourth, Southwest scored seven runs to take an 11-8 lead. Claudia Pizzarelli drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice.

Cross Bayou No. 2 beat Southwest No. 1 3-2 to stay alive at Gulfport. Jonathan Bouriboun went five innings for the win and Austin Lawrence threw the final inning for the save. Cross Bayou faces Seminole No. 2 at 6:30 Monday in the loser's bracket final.

Northeast slipped past Baypoint 8-7 at Gulfport and advances to the championship Monday night at 8 against Seminole.

East Lake 6, Dunedin 3

Clearwater 11, Holiday 0, four innings

Palm Harbor 5, West Pasco 1

Tarpon Springs 16, Safety Harbor 13

Oldsmar 15, Dunedin 0

West Pasco 11, Palm Harbor 1

Tarpon Springs 10, Clearwater 8

East Lake 11, Safety Harbor 1

Holiday 17, West Pinellas 1

Countryside 9, Largo 8

[Last modified June 25, 2006, 03:30:51]