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By CAREY FREEMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 8, 2001
So close, and yet so far. That's the sentiment at Crystal River after another close loss -- the fifth by two runs or less.
Despite a stellar, one-hit effort from pitcher Krystle Cummings, the story in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Citrus was all too familiar for the Pirates. One bad inning, followed by a lack of run production, was the difference in a game that easily could have gone Crystal River's way.
"We are playing consistently," Pirates coach Laura Wingate said. "We're consistently having a bad inning every game, we're consistently leaving runners on base and we're consistently not putting down the bunt when we need to. Hopefully, it will work out over time."
For now, all she can do is hope. But hope is easy to come by in circumstances like this. It would be one thing if Crystal River was getting blown out, but the closeness of the vast majority of its losses has left a glimmer of hope.
Take away just two of Tuesday's four errors, throw in a well-executed bunt and the result could have been reversed. Citrus scored both of its runs in the first inning. The first was earned, but the second came when an easy pop-fly was dropped by an outfielder. Then there was the pivotal fifth inning when the Pirates had runners on second and third base with no outs.
Just one executed bunt would have pulled them within one; two could have tied the score. What Crystal River got, however, was a pop up to the catcher and a strikeout, followed by an inning-ending grounder to second.
Compounding matters is the fact that the same story has played itself out so often this season.
The Pirates lost three of their four games in the Pasco-Hernando Community College Tournament by one run, including a 2-1 decision to Hernando and 4-3 setbacks to Citrus and Dunnellon. Even its 5-1 loss to Lecanto last week could have gone differently had Crystal River not allowed five runs, four unearned, in the first inning.
"I'm not frustrated," Wingate said. "As far as pitching and catching, we're doing what we need to do. But we have older kids that are making errors they shouldn't and older kids leaving runners on base.
"We're not getting blown out by any means at all, but our veteran players need to step up and do the job."
GETTING STRONGER: After two weeks of disorganization, Citrus is showing signs of strengthening.
The errors that plagued the Hurricanes in three losses last week appear to be a thing of the past. That is, if you're judging by recent performances -- wins against Crystal River and a one-run, 10-inning loss to Central.
"I think we pulled together over the last three games," Citrus coach Scott Waters said. "We made a few errors in the (Pasco-Hernando C.C.) tournament, but we've only had two errors in our last 17 innings."
THAT GOOD, HUH? Amy Lilley isn't quite ready to make direct comparisons between her team and the one she guided to a state title in 1996, but she's hinting.
After last week's 5-1 victory over Crystal River, Lilley called her current group "the best hitting team I've coached." She's maintaining that stance. "Yeah, I'd say they are," Lilley said. "We've got a variety of everything. We've got kids that can put the bunt down when needed, kids who can hit to score runs and we've got our base hitters."
Lecanto 8-2
Citrus 6-4
Crystal River 2-6
Seven Rivers 0-1