Tampa Bay team splits but reaches semifinals

Palma Ceia/Tampa Bay/Interbay plays Naples at 10 a.m. today in Bloomingdale.

By JARRETT GUTHRIE, Times Correspondent
Published July 29, 2007

Palma Ceia/Tampa Bay/Interbay beat Deland 16-2 in the team's first game Saturday in junior softball.

Kaitlyn Steckel led the way, picking up the win and hitting a three-run home run out of the park. Paige Pitisci added two doubles.

In PC/TB/IB's second game it lost to Tri-County 5-1.

Despite the loss to Tri-County, PC/TB/IB advances out of its pool into the semifinals. It plays Naples at 10 a.m. today in Bloomingdale.

10-11 BASEBALL: Citrus Park exploded offensively in the state tournament defeating Cocoa and Chaires-Capitola (Tallahassee) 14-4 in each game, with both games ending after four innings.

In the first game, Citrus Park hit four home runs - two solo shots and two three-run home runs. Darren Miller and Kevin Merrill each homered, and Merrill's put the lead at 10 and ended the game. Wyatt Reid and Danny Lastra each hit three-run shots.

Against Chaires-Capitola, Michael McGuire had two home runs and four RBIs and Reid added another home run.

Reid was 6-for-6 in both games with six RBIs.

Citrus Park will play New Tampa at 10 a.m. today in Pinellas Park.

[Last modified July 29, 2007, 01:20:32]