Gaither ace delivers despite pain

By JARRETT GUTHRIE
Published March 8, 2007

TAMPA - Pitcher Morgan Grove improved to 10-0 on the season as Gaither defeated Plant 4-3 on Wednesday.

Gaither took the early lead in the top of the second when a double by Ashley McCoy scored Meghan Johnson. McCoy scored on a single by Katie Forbes later in the inning, giving Gaither a 2-0 lead.

Lauren Elgar lead off the third for Gaither (12-1) with a line-drive home run clearing the centerfield fence.

But in the home half of the third inning the Panthers (7-2) tied it at 3 on three hits. After Plant's Jessica Cason walked and Kerri Croney singled, Talia Barron hit a two RBI triple down the rightfield line that went off of the glove of a diving Amanda Bueno.

"Our rightfielder tried to make a spectacular catch but she couldn't make the play," Gaither coach Al Alcala said. "I told her I'd give her a '10' for effort but with a 3-0 lead, keep the ball in front of you."

Barron later scored in the inning on a single by Lindsay Hyde.

The deciding run was scored by Kristen McGrath, who was 3-for-4 on the day, when a throwing error on a hit to the pitcher sent the ball deep into centerfield.

After Plant's three-run third inning, Grove only allowed one more Panthers hit the rest of the game.

Grove admitted mid-game to Alcala she was feeling some soreness in her right foot, but not enough to prevent her from pitching. Despite the soreness, Grove pitched a complete game striking out five.

"Her right toe was hurting and if I'd known that I never would have pitched her," Alcala said. "But she didn't tell me until sixth inning."

[Last modified March 8, 2007, 00:11:18]