Bears, Sharks split close games

Central rallies late in the first game; Nature Coast steals the second.

By DEREK LARIVIERE
Published April 5, 2007

SPRING HILL - Central and Nature Coast split a doubleheader Wednesday night.

In the first game, won by Central 6-5 in nine innings, the Bears were saved by the game-changing relief performance of Jordan Kraemer.

Relieving starter Gabby Roberts, Kraemer pitched 32/3 shutout innings for Central (4-12), icing the Nature Coast lineup. She limited the Sharks (7-12) to only two hits in that span.

"She came up big for us late," Central coach Lindsey Grey said. "She came in and kept the whole team fired up."

Central took the lead in the top half of the ninth inning thanks to a clutch hit off the bat of leftfielder Courtney Gray. After a one-out single from Kraemer, Gray singled in the go-ahead run off Nature Coast starter Ashley Antzcak. Antzcak pitched a complete game in the loss for the Sharks.

On the tail end of the twin bill, Nature Coast snagged a 6-4 victory.

Behind the up-and-down pitching of Lizzy Olmstead, the Sharks stayed close before jumping in front late.

Olmstead was almost unhittable early, striking out 10 in her 51/3 innings. But the freshman also surrendered six free passes to Central hitters, giving up four runs, two earned.

Offensively, cleanup hitter Kaitlyn Wadsworth was the star for the Sharks. She finished 4-for-5 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Wadsworth reached base all five times she was at the plate, wrapping the night by reaching on an error in the seventh frame.

[Last modified April 4, 2007, 23:56:35]