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Leopards aim to keep edge in district

By DAVID MURPHY
Published March 22, 2007

With three games remaining on its Class 4A, District 8 softball schedule, Hernando has a two-game lead over Zephyrhills for the No. 2 seed in the district tournament.

But don't expect the Leopards to slip into chicken-counting mode anytime soon.

"We'd be idiots to overlook anybody," coach Kevin Bittinger said.

That said, Bittinger has to like where his team is with three weeks left in the regular season. Hernando is 14-4 overall and 9-2 in district play despite some key injuries. Katelyn Vanderham, the returning Times All-Hernando/Citrus Player of the Year, has played much of the season with torn cartilage in her chest, forcing fellow senior Chelsea Chipoletti to make six starts on the mound.

Third baseman Alex Gaffney, whose five home runs are believed to be a school record, has missed six games with a knee injury.

Nevertheless, the Leopards performed well at a tournament in Tallahassee last weekend, finishing sixth in a 15-team field that features some of the top teams in the state. Hernando's two losses came against Lincoln, ranked No. 9 in Class 5A, and Milton, ranked No. 8 in 4A.

The 4A-8 picture will become more clear on Friday after Springstead hosts Gulf. The Eagles are currently No. 5 in the district with six losses, while the Buccaneers are fourth with five losses.

HERNANDO BASEBALL UPDATE: The Leopards head into tonight's game riding back-to-back wins over Springstead, including a 1-0 victory that came in the bottom of the eighth. Hernando is 6-5 overall, thanks in large part to the play of seniors Kai Huff, Kyle Neal and Ryan Lamb. Coach Donnie Whitehead was particularly complimentary of Lamb, who has starred for the Leopards at the plate, on the mound and in the field.

"He's been outstanding for us," Whitehead said.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 20:20:12]