Pinellas: county roundup

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Published February 15, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg Catholic might have graduated Times pitcher of the year Deanna Henriott - currently 3-0 in three appearances as a freshman pitcher for the University of Tampa - but Barons coach Tom Fabian thinks he has found an adequate replacement in sophomore right-hander Chloe Saganowich.

Typically a shortstop, Saganowich has pitched for over a week now with impressive results. In four games, including two preseason match ups, she has yet to lose while recording 36 strikeouts.

On Thursday against Northside Christian, a region semifinalist in Class 2A a year ago, Saganowich ran her personal record to 2-0 after limiting the Mustangs to one run on four hits in a complete-game, 3-1 victory.

"There are big shoes to fill," Saganowich said. "I'm not a pitcher, I'm a shortstop really, but I just have to do what the team needs."

The Barons (2-0) staked Saganowich to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Bonnie Joyner singled to centerfield, stole second and scored on an error.

Lindsay McKenna's RBI single in the fourth extended the lead over Northside (2-1) to 2-0.

Saganowich, meanwhile, wasn't as dominant as Henriott but equally effective. She struck out five while walking just two and didn't allow a runner to advance safely past second base until giving up an unearned run in the fifth inning.

"She'll get better as we go along, the more we practice with her and get her in shape," Fabian said.

With the score 2-1, Amanda Kolowick led off the seventh inning with a single for SPC. She stole second and later scored on an error to give the Barons an insurance run. Saganowich worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to wrap up the victory.

"I told the kids I'm proud of them and there's no need to hang their heads because that's a good ball club over there," Northside coach Steve Fisher said.

Countryside 5, Mitchell 4: At home, Countryside erased a 4-2 deficit by scoring three runs in the fifth inning to earn a one-run victory over Mitchell. After giving up three runs in the first inning, Alyssa Bache recovered for Countryside to earn the victory and run her record to 2-0.

Lakewood 14, Northeast 6: Trailing 6-3 and down to its final at-bats, Lakewood scored 11 runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Northeast (0-2) on the road.

Courtney Parker had two doubles to pace Lakewood (3-0). Spartans' pitcher Tina Campbell improves to 3-0 on the season.

Pinellas Park 4, East Lake 2: Sara Nevins ran her record to 4-1 after pitching the Patriots to a two-run victory over East Lake (0-2) on the road. The score was tied at 2 going into the seventh inning until Pinellas Park (4-2) broke the deadlock by scoring twice in the top half of the inning.

Baseball

Indian Rocks Christian 10, Keswick Christian 0: Alex Winkle and John McKnight combined to pitch a one-hitter as the home-standing Golden Eagles won by 10 over Keswick (0-2).

Freshman catcher Chase Smith blasted a three-run home run in the first inning and had four RBIs to pace Indian Rocks (1-0). Winkle added a two-RBI double in the fifth inning and picked up the victory, his first of the year.

[Last modified February 14, 2008, 23:23:20]