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Where's the 'O'?

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Spring Hill Belles right-hander Alexi Adams has been the mainstay on the mound and helped her own cause with a .375 batting average through nine games for the District 4 and Florida State Champions.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: August 1, 2008

Typically, stout pitching and outstanding defense are staples in any championship run.

Timely hitting should also be in the mix.

But what about a team - Spring Hill Belles (ages 13-15) - that won the Dixie Youth League State Championship at the Belleview Sports Complex in July despite hitting a collective .231 as a team?

Head Coach Louie Caiazzo's team has certainly has not matched his expectations at the plate.

Especially after chalking up four extra base hits in 147 at-bats - that's less than 3 percent - in Marion County.

Yet, the West Hernando County team, now known as Team Florida, opens action in the 12-team Dixie World Series late Saturday afternoon in Alexandria, La. against St. Martin, Miss.

The other 10 teams in the week-long, double elimination affair include: Ferriday, La.; Liberty, Texas.; Madison Central, Tenn.; Montgomery A.U.M., Ala.; Columbia County, Ga.; Sumter, S.C.; Appomattox, Va.; South Stanly, N.C.; and Lafayette County, Ark.

If the uncertain batting status wasn't enough, Spring Hill enters the tourney with one player with experience at this level, right-hander Alexis Adams.

Prepping for the Series

So what has Spring Hill done to prepare for Saturday's first-round game?

"We've scrimmaged a lot as a team," pointed out Caiazzo. "The best practice is playing under game conditions. We've played the Hernando Debs and a travel ball team from Hudson to get ready. It's been a big help."

What about the lack of offense?

Through nine games this summer, only Megan Baker (13-for-25) is hitting above .400 at .525.

Adams is next a .375 while Brooke Young ranks third at .320.

"We've got some hitters on this team," indicated Caiazzo. "But the mental part of the game is huge. Psychology plays a big deal. We're capable of pounding the ball. Hitting is contagious. But so is not hitting. We've kinda drifted into a team slump.

"It's pretty amazing to think how far we've come (without hitting)," he said. "We've had great pitching and solid defense. We've just to get the bats in gear."

What's Caiazzo done to jump start the offense?

"We made some line-up changes in the last game at states," he said. "There could be others. We're scrimmaging against some good people to get our confidence back.

"We put (Brooke) Sager at leadoff and it seemed to work," Caiazzo reminded. "At this point, we're still fooling around with the line-up. But the leadoff spot sets the table, so that was crucial to solve."

Positives?

On the plus, Spring Hill's pitchers have simply shut down the opposition.

"I tell the kids, if you're not at practice, continue to throw the ball," he said. "I don't worry about Lexi (Adams). She throws every day with her dad. And Brooke (Sager) and Megan (Baker) get the job done at home, too. The more you throw, the better you get."

Defensively, Sager and Adams splitting time at catcher has paid huge dividends.

"Two of best three pitchers are also catchers," Caiazzo remarked. "They've been solid behind the plate. Really our whole infield has."

Keys at the Series

Caiazzo would not predict how his team would fare in the World Series.

"For us, it'll come down to hitting," he shrugged. "We've got to take some pressure off our pitchers. I'm assuming we're face state championship-type pitching from here on out. We have to go in and play our best games.

"Ball is pretty simple. It normally comes down to the team that makes the plays is gonna win," Caiazzo added. "The games we lost before, we didn't make the plays we needed to."

What about playing on the road for almost a week?

"I don't think playing away from home will affect us," replied Caiazzo. "The kids are focused. I'd be real disappointed if we went two and out. I'd like to see us go deep into the tournament. We have to hope to play our best and just play hard. Whoever plays us will get a good game."

What have you told the kids?

"We're making memories," recalled Caiazzo. "I want the girls to enjoy the experience. And the best way to enjoy it is by winning."

2008 SPRING HILL BELLES STATS AND RECAP (thru 08-01)

- Compiled by CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

HITTING STATS (@ districts)
NAME GP AB R H 2B 3B HR .AVG
Baker 04    11    01   05   00   00    00   .455
Sager      04    12    02   05   00   01    00   .417
Cataldo    04    10    03   04   00    00   01   .400
Young      04    11    02   04   01    00    00    .364
Thompson,L. 04    12    04   04   01    00    00    .333
Thompson,G. 04   12   02   03   00    00    00    .250
Adams      04   09    05    02    01    00    00    .222
Bettineschi 04    09    02    02    00    00    00    .222
Caban      04    11    00    01    00    00    00    .091
Gaffney    04    12    01    01    00    00    00    .083
TOTALS     04    109   22    31    03    01    01    .284

HITTING STATS (@ states)
NAME GP AB R H 2B 3B HR .AVG
Baker      05 14 02 08 00 00 00 .571
Adams      05    15    00    07    02    00    00    .467
Young     05    14    02    04    00    00    00    .286
Gaffney    05    15    03    04    00    00    00    .267
Thompson,G. 05    18    05    03    00    00    00    .167
Sager     05    15 02 02 00 00 00 .133
Cataldo   05    15 02 02 00 00 00 .133
Thompson,L. 05    15    03    02    01    01    00    .133
Caban      05    12    00    01    00    00    00    .083
Bettineschi 05    14    01    01    00    00    00    .071
TOTALS      05    147   20    34    03    01    00    .231

HITTING STATS (thru 9 games)
NAME GP AB R H 2B 3B HR .AVG
Baker      09    25    03    13*   00    00    00    .520*
Adams      09    24    05    09    03*   00    00    .375
Young      09    25    04    08    01    00    00    .320
Cataldo   09    25    05    06    00    00    01*   .240
Thompson,L. 09    27    07*   06    02    01*   00    .222
Thompson,G. 09    30*   07*   06    00    00    00    .200
Gaffney    09    27    04    05    00    00    00    .185
Sager      09    27    04    04    00    01*   00    .148
Bettineschi 09    23    03    03    00    00    00    .130
Caban      09    23    00    02    00    00    00    .087
TOTALS     09    256   42    65    06    02    01    .254
* Denotes team leader

COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHAT: Dixie Belles (ages 13-15) Softball World Series
WHO: Twelve teams including Florida (Spring Hill), Alexandria National, La; St. Martin, Miss.; Ferriday, La.; Liberty, Tx.; Madison Central, Tenn.; Montgomery A.U.M., Ala.; Columbia Co., Ga.; Sumter, SC; Appomattox, VA; South Stanly, NC; and Lafayette Co., Ark.
WHEN: Aug. 2-9. Double elimination format.
WHERE: Alexandria, LA.
AT STAKE: Dixie Championship.

2008 Spring Hill Belles (ages 13-15) All-Stars
Name Position
Gina Thompson 1B
Linda Thompson LF/SS/2B
Brooke Sager P/C/2B/3B
Alexis Adams P/C/1B
Shannon Cataldo 3B/SS
Megan Baker P/C/2B/3B
Angie Gaffney 3B/CF
Danielle Caban RF
Brooke Young 2B/LF
Ashley BettineschiRF
Head Coach: Louie Caiazzo
Assistant coaches: Kim Foster, Ken Baker

Spring Hill Belles (ages 13-15)
Tourney Recap Record: 7-2
Date Opponent Result
06-20 West Pasco* W 5-2
06-23 Hernando* W 4-2
06-24 West Pasco* L 8-9
06-25 West Pasco* W 4-2
07-04 Chipley# W 4-1
07-05 Franklin Co.# W 9-3
07-05 Mulberry# W 4-3
07-06 Chipley# L 1-11 (5 Inns.)
07-07 Chipley# W 3-0

* Denotes District 4 Tournament
@ Oakridge Park, New Port Richey
# Denotes State Championship
Tournament @ Belleview Sports Complex

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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