East Lake plays and wins with a heavy heart

Eagles 5, Osceola 3

By JOE SMITH
Published March 20, 2007

SEMINOLE - East Lake junior pitcher Kim Mazzapica gathered with her teammates for a post-game huddle on the mound Monday night.

The Eagles had beaten Osceola 5-3 but their chant was more somber than celebratory.

"R.I.P. T.J. #9!"

The saying, penned on the Eagles' blue armbands, honored their late classmate, junior T.J. McPhee-Barry, who died in a car accident Saturday night.

"There are 2,500 kids at our school and the halls were silent (Monday)," Mazzapica said. "We just stared at all the posters and pictures (of T.J.) in shock."

Hours later, the Eagles played for their fallen friend. Mazzapica threw a three-hitter, striking out 10 (five looking), getting stronger as the game wore on.

Sophomore Kelsey Viars belted an RBI single in the Eagles' three-run second, sparked by three Osceola errors.

Junior centerfielder Carley Davis made another spectacular catch, diving to her left to rob Kayla Shavers of an RBI single in the third.

Shavers ripped an RBI single in the fifth and scored on two East Lake errors to bring Osceola (7-4) within 5-3.

But East Lake (13-6) held off the Warriors rally before boarding a bus back to campus. Having chosen to play during the school's vigil for McPhee-Barry, the Eagles would make their own ceremony, filled with candles, signs and, eventually, a smile.

"We'll say goodbye," Davis said. "And tell him we miss him."

[Last modified March 20, 2007, 01:26:38]