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By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 10, 2001
With only one of four teams eliminated from the Dixie Softball League state tournament, West Pasco has a chance to improve upon the two state titles won last year by the Angels (9-10) and Belles (13-15).
However, this season, the Belles are not among the remaining contenders. The squad bowed out of the series at Sneads, northwest of Tallahassee, on Sunday to finish 1-2.
The Angels, Ponytails (11-12) and Debs (16-18) played Monday. Before those games, the Debs were 1-1 and the Angels and Ponytails held matching 3-0 records.
"Every day you get to play you still have a shot," West Pasco president Kelly Skulas said. "These kids are playing their hearts out."
Courtney Guercio, Karissa Hill and Brianna Rish combined for a no-hitter in the Angels' 10-0 win over Okeechobee on Sunday. The trio combined for eight strikeouts with Hill fanning five.
"They are just shutting them down," Angels manager Barbara Orlando said. "It's amazing, the pitching."
Saturday, the Angels beat Desoto County 17-6 with starter Brittany Orlando earning the win.
Erica Pieniak fueled the offense with a three-run home run and a run-scoring triple. Amy Petrella chipped in with a three-run homer and Olivia Kline had three singles, three RBI and scored a run.
Also against Desoto, Lindsey Guercio broke her right wrist when she was thrown out at home after trying to leg out a home run.
Sunday, the Ponytails outlasted Wewahitchka 11-9 by snapping a 9-9 tie with two runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Christina Skulas stole home for the game-winner and West Pasco got an insurance run when Shawna Kinney scored on Stefani Giannakaris' single.
Rebekah Stockowski had a triple and two RBI in that game with winning pitcher Meagan Novotny, Skulas, Kinney and Patricia Dobrawski combining for 16 strikeouts.
That contest followed Saturday's 14-9 defeat of Belleview.
Skulas had three hits, including a triple and five RBI, to lead the West Pasco offense.
Michelle Miller added three singles and two RBI, and Kristy Albertson had a single and two walks, scoring twice and driving in a run.
The Belles were knocked out of the tournament after Sunday's 5-4 loss to Sneads.
Christy Karl took the loss after Sneads broke a 4-4 tie with a walk and two hits in the seventh inning.
The Belles suffered their first loss of the double-elimination tournament Saturday in an 18-13 loss to Avon Park.
The Debs also lost Saturday, 23-5 to Hernando.
Lisa Dobrawski hit a two-run double, Amy Skulas stole home, and Melissa Novotny and Amanda O'Dell had RBI singles.