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Selling Out!

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

acastro@hernandotoday.com

Published: April 21, 2008

Updated: 05/05/2008 04:54 pm

BROOKSVILLE - Certainly the effort was there late Thursday night at Tom Varn Park.

The county's final public school softball program, No. 4 seed Springstead High, hung around, yet it was not enough in the semifinals of the Class 4A, District 8 Tournament before losing to defending district champion Dade City-Pasco, 2-0.

The top-seeded Pirates, who did not drop a district game during the regular season going 16-0, opened the five-day single-elimination tourney by hammering Hudson on Tuesday, 15-0.

On Thursday night, PHS' Head Coach Shamalene Broner's squad climbed to 23-2 overall behind an outstanding individual effort by junior southpaw Colena Lazar.

Lazar faced 28 batters in her complete-game shutout. She struck out more than half of the Lady Eagles she faced -- 15 overall -- including the first seven batters to open the game. She overcame two walks, two wild pitches, two Pasco errors and some anxious moments late in the game.

With the win, Pasco was set to face No. 3 seed Zephyrhills for the third straight year Friday night for the 4A-8 crown.

Lazar (18-2 overall) received some breathing room in the third inning when twin sister Colesa Lazar doubled with one out off Springstead ace Becky Powell.

Powell (16-7) scattered seven Pirate hits across six innings. She struck out four to reach the 200-strikeout plateau for the season while issuing two free passes and hitting a batter.

Sophomore catcher Megan Newsome followed with an RBI single, 1-0 Pirates.

Powell was able to weave in and out of trouble thanks to a terrific defensive effort and some poor Pasco base-running judgment.

Pinch runner Renae Reynolds was thrown out on a relay throw from centerfielder Samantha Boggs to third sacker Shannon Cataldo following Newsome's hit.

SHS catcher Olivia D'Acunto, who replaced four-time All-County selection Hilary Fiocca this spring, also threw out two runners. Courtesy runner Leandra Roberts, who came in after Colena Lazar singled in the third, was thrown out at second.

In the fourth inning, D'Acunto shot down Sharita Jenkins who was attempting to steal second.

Meanwhile, SHS began to reach base against Colena Lazar.

In the fourth, with Boggs aboard on a walk, Powell reached on a two-out error placing runners at the corners. Here, Lazar enticed Shelby Vaccaro to ground sharply behind first base. But perhaps in the defensive gem of the game, Pirate second baseman Brianne Farmer ranged far to her left, scooped the ball up and fired to Courtney Brandt to take a sure RBI hit away.

In the SHS sixth, sophomore Amanda Drawe snapped Lazar's no-hit bid with a single up the middle. A wild pitch pushed her to second before pinch hitter Katie Blizzard walked. Boggs then beat out an infield hit to load the bases for D'Acunto.

Here, Lazar rose to the occasion with some quality pitches to entice D'Acunto into a fielder's choice standing three runners.

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