Softball: Spongers' tricky bunt good for win over Pinellas Park

Tarpon starter Jessica Allen struck out 10 for the complete-game victory.

By Bryan Burns
Published March 4, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - Tarpon Springs coach Steve Plummer knew runs would be hard to come by against Pinellas Park pitcher Sara Nevins.

So, with the score tied at one in extra innings, Plummer reached into his bag of tricks to plate the winning run in the Spongers' eight-inning 2-1 victory.

With one out and Tarpon's Danielle Labella on first base, Plummer had Autumn Gill lay down a sacrifice bunt. Labella reached second easily and, without hesitation, rounded the corner for third.

Pinellas Park's throw from first to third trying to gun down Labella sailed over the third baseman's head, and Labella raced home to give Tarpon Springs (7-1) the win.

"We were having trouble with (Nevins) all night," Plummer said. "A couple of the girls were able to get the bat on the ball, but a lot of them were very much fooled.

"I had to come up with something."

After surrendering a run in the third inning on Labella's RBI single, Nevins (7-3) grew stronger as the game wore on, allowing just two singles and striking out 10 batters after the third. That forced Plummer to try something, anything, to create a spark against the Patriots (8-4).

"We worked on (that play) Friday at practice," Labella said. "We just thought we should try it. We had nothing to lose."

Tarpon starter Jessica Allen (5-1) struck out 10 for the complete-game victory.

Northside Christian wins it in 13th inning

ST. PETERSBURG - A first-rate baseball rivalry should feature two high-quality teams and close contests.

By those measures, the battles between Shorecrest and Northside Christian are equal to any of the big rivalries.

The schools added another memorable game to their series on Monday, when the Mustangs rallied to win 5-4 in 13 innings.

"I haven't been here very long, but from what I hear these are big-time grudge matches," first-year Northside coach Raul Hernandez said. "This was just a gritty win for us."

Down 4-3 in the bottom of the 12th, seventh-grader Alex McGathy hit a run-scoring single to tie the game.

In the 13th, Cam Eller started things off by drawing a walk. He was replaced by pinch-runner Tito Santos.

David Edwards followed with a double, and Robbie Williams had a hit that ricocheted off the third baseman's glove for an error to bring in Santos.

It was the first time in the past three games that the Mustangs have won a one-run game. They lost the previous two to Bradenton St. Stephens and Miami Christian.

"I think those two games prepared for this one," Hernandez said.

Bob Putnam, Times staff writer

[Last modified March 4, 2008, 00:59:04]