Dixon powers Mustangs win

By IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writer
Published March 12, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Scott Bisbe looked down at his lineup card and grinned Tuesday as he wrote in No. 1. Mitchell catcher Courtney Stager was back after some thought she might be lost for the regular season with a broken finger sustained on Valentine's Day.

Stager had a good night, but Mustangs centerfielder Tenisha Dixon had a great night. The UCF signee belted a pair of key hits to lift Mitchell to an 8-6 win at rival River Ridge.

"Tenisha had a phenomenal night hitting the ball," Bisbe said. "Five RBIs, you can't ask for anything better than that. ... It's probably her best hitting game."

Dixon gave the Mustangs 9-3 a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning after crushing a pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run. With River Ridge (6-1) clawing back Dixon clubbed a double in the sixth, collecting two more RBIs for an 8-4 lead.

"I knew they still had a chance to get back up," Dixon said. "I just had to keep playing at my best."

Mustangs pitcher Olivia Kline (six strikeouts) had a no-hitter broken up in the fourth inning but wore down in the fifth as River Ridge made it 5-4, thanks to five hits and RBIs by Madison Morris, Brianna Rush and a double by Michelle McKonly. River Ridge scored two more in the seventh thanks to a home run by Morris and a double by McKonly.

Any questions about Stager's finger were answered after she made a diving catch, gunned down a runner attempting to steal second, then crushed a pair of line drives at third base.

"I dealt with it," Stager said of her finger. "It's not sore anymore."

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or (727) 580-5315.

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 10:23:16]