Outcome of Hernando vs. Pasco anyone's guess

By DAVID MURPHY
Published February 27, 2007

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It's hard to make much sense out of Class 4A, District 8 softball early this season.

Hernando opened the season by knocking off five-time defending state champion Bartow. Springstead, meanwhile, beat a Zephyrhills team that was state-ranked at the end of last year. Early last week, Hernando gave up six runs in the seventh inning to lose 9-8 to Zephyrhills. But three days later, the Leopards mercy-ruled Springstead 10-0 in five innings.

Got it?

Things could get even more convoluted today when Hernando hosts Pasco in a makeup game. On paper, the teams are the favorites to reach the 4A-8 title game. The Leopards feature returning Times Hernando/Citrus Player of the Year Katelyn Vanderham and a potent offense.

The Pirates have beaten Gulf, another of the teams expected to contend for the title, 3-2 and have arguably one of the top pitchers in the area in sophomore lefty Colena Lazar. Lazar struck out 15 against Gulf and also hit a homer.

The Pirates also boast a potent offense, led by shortstop Brianne Farmer, a Times all-Pasco County pick last year.

Game time is 6 p.m. at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville.