Lazar plays through pain in Pasco's win

During Pasco's 5-1 win against Gulf at The Boneyard, sophomore pitcher Colena Lazar had a right quadriceps pull, an injury that should have kept her on the bench.

By MIKE CAMUNAS Times Correspondent
Published March 3, 2007

DADE CITY - Sophomore pitcher Colena Lazar couldn't stop limping Friday. During Pasco's 5-1 win against Gulf at The Boneyard, she had a right quadriceps pull, an injury that should have kept her on the bench.

Still, she still found a way to strike out 10 Buccaneers, allowing only four hits and a run, while improving to 4-2.

"She's a good pitcher. She throws dominating with her riser pitch," Gulf coach Rick Hohenthaner said. "We had a difficult time against her the first time around, but it was encouraging to see us get the ball in play."

Lazar, whose twin sister, Colesa, is the Pirates' centerfielder, said she pulled her quad in Thursday's 7-1 win against rival Zephyrhills and was able to ignore the pain.

"When I'm (on the mound), I don't like to give up, even if I'm hurt," said Lazar, who went 2 for 3 at the plate. "I don't know how I (played). I just put my mind to it."

After four scoreless innings, Pasco (7-2, 5-1) took the lead on Brianne Farmer's three-run home run.

Gulf's (5-4, 3-4) lone run came in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by catcher Devin Fellman, scoring center fielder Brittany Maghill. The Pirates added two in the bottom of the sixth, one coming off Lazar's RBI double that scored pinch runner Sharita Jenkins.

Hohenthaner was impressed by Pasco's play.

"You've got your River Ridges, your Land O'Lakes and your Mitchells," he said. "But player for player, position for position, I would argue this team is probably the strongest."

[Last modified March 3, 2007, 00:53:22]