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Angels prepared for debut
By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, NEW PORT RICHEY -- Win or lose, the West Pasco Angels will go down in history. They are one of 12 teams taking part in the inaugural Dixie Softball League World Series for the 9-10 age group. "This is so overwhelming to me. You don't even know," manager Barbara Orlando said. "It's an experience of a lifetime." Outfielder Lindsay Guercio nearly didn't get a chance for the experience. But doctors removed the cast from her fractured right wrist Tuesday and has rejoined the team for the World Series that begins Saturday in Montgomery, Ala. West Pasco plays Louisiana at 7 p.m. "I was thinking I could come back," said Guercio, who took batting practice Wednesday, just three weeks after fracturing her wrist on a home-plate collision during the state tournament. "It means a lot to me because I never made all-stars before." West Pasco coach Frank Guercio had his daughter swing a Wiffle Ball bat while she was injured but left the decision to play up to his daughter. "I said, "Look, if it hurts, just tell me and we'll get another player,"' Frank Guercio said. "(Lindsay Guercio) was hitting like she was hitting before she broke it," Orlando said. Before Thursday morning's departure for Alabama, Orlando said she was encouraged by her team's practices since winning the state tournament July 10. "I've seen the girls get a lot stronger on hitting fast-pitching," Orlando said. "And all seven of our pitchers are throwing harder." West Pasco is the Florida representative in the 12-team field that includes two squads from Alabama. The host state gets two berths, one for the state champion and another for the host city. Other states represented in the double-elimination tournament are: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. West Pasco won its second consecutive state title with a 2-0 win over Chipley on July 10. It won last year's state tournament at Zephyrhills. But before this season, the division did not play a World Series. West Pasco won four of five games at the state tournament in large part because of seven hitters who hit .571 or higher. Olivia Kline led the way at .846. Behind Kline were Brianna Rish (.778), Brittany Orlando (.692), Karissa Hill (.636), Courtney Guercio (.600), Erica Pieniak (.571) and Stephanie Palazzolo (.571). Pitching depth also helped. Hill and Courtney Guercio are the top pitchers with 15 and 14 strikeouts, respectively. The other pitchers are Orlando, Rish, Kline, Amy Petrella and Megan Pemberton. Already with a state title, Barbara Orlando and Frank Guercio agree only one thing could make this season even better. "It would be nice to win the first (World Series) ever," Guercio said. "Nobody else can do that." Added Orlando, "They look good, and they're ready."
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