TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Weather Makes For Chaotic District Tournament

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: July 2, 2008

The Hernando Ponytails and Spring Hill Belles each won championships at the District 4 All-Star Tournament last week.

However, in those double-elimination tournaments, one person won more than any other: Mother Nature.

Featuring 19 teams over four age groups attempting to play their respective district tournaments on two fields at Oakridge Park in New Port Richey, the event was scheduled to take place over five days.

Thanks to some extremely wet weather, the tournament lasted two extra days and included several games that finished into the early morning hours.

Tournament host West Pasco took district crowns in the two youngest age groups, the Darlings (ages 7-8) and Angels (ages 9-10).

West Pasco also reached the final for the Ponytails (ages 11-12) and Belles (ages 13-15) but lost the decisive contest in each.

So while two county teams made it out of the district and will play on in the State Tournament starting Friday in Belleview, six others saw their All-Star runs come to a close.

Spring Hill won the state championship for the Darlings in 2007, but returned no members of that team. After defeating Hernando, 18-17, in the first game, Spring Hill lost to West Pasco, 14-9, and Wesley Chapel, 14-11.

"I thought the team performed very well for what we had," Spring Hill Head Coach Mark Kordon said. "It was a very rookie team. No returning all-stars. It was the first tournament ever for these girls.

"I thought they played really well. The other teams had a lot more experience than we did. In this tournament, and in most cases, the best team wins and in this case I think the best team did win. West Pasco had a very good team."

Following that first-round loss to Spring Hill, Hernando was bounced from the four-team field thanks to a 21-9 loss to Wesley Chapel.

"I've got to hand it to Wesley Chapel," Hernando Head Coach Pasha Darby said. "They came ready to play. We played good ball; they just played better.

"All I can say is I'm proud of my kids. They played hard and we had a good time."

Spring Hill's Angels, featuring several players from the defending state champion Darlings, reached the final but lost to West Pasco, 4-3. West Pasco had already beaten Spring Hill in the first round, 6-1.

In between, Spring Hill downed Wesley Chapel (7-2), Hernando (8-1) and East Pasco (13-3). Hernando went 0-2, also losing to West Pasco in its first game.

"I think they played their best game in the tournament (in the final) even though they lost," Spring Hill Head Coach Glenn Primavera said. "We were really very evenly matched. If we played them 10 times, we'd split them 5-5.

"I'm disappointed personally, but I'm not disappointed in the girls. I'm disappointed we didn't win but I'm not disappointed in the way we played.

"I feel like we have one of the best teams in state in this age group. We have a very tough district traditionally every year. I feel we can play with anybody. I'm sure West Pasco will do very well in the State Tournament. That's how good they are."

The Spring Hill Ponytails won their first two games, 14-3 over West Pasco and 11-1 over East Pasco, before losing to Hernando (4-2) and West Pasco (5-2).

"We jelled together and played well," Spring Hill Manager Kevin Riecss said. "Unfortunately the last two games we did leave runners in scoring position. We couldn't get that timely hit.

"...The girls had a great time. We played well, above expectations. To go 2-2 was a great run. I'm extremely proud of the girls."

The Hernando Belles went 1-2 under Cliff Manuel, beating Wesley Chapel 21-0 before falling to Spring Hill (4-2) and West Pasco (9-6).

BY THE NUMBERS: SPRING HILL DARLINGS (1-2)
Head coach: Mark Kordon
Date Opponent Result
06-20 Hernando W 18-17
06-22 West Pasco L 9-14
06-23 Wesley Chapel L 11-14

BY THE NUMBERS: HERNANDO DARLINGS (0-2)
Head coach: Pasha Darby
Date Opponent Result
06-20 Spring Hill L 17-18
06-22 Wesley Chapel L 9-21
 
BY THE NUMBERS: SPRING HILL ANGELS (3-2)
Head coach: Glenn Primavera
Date Opponent Result
06-19 West Pasco L 1-6
06-22 Wesley Chapel W 7-2
06-23 Hernando W 8-1
06-24 East Pasco W 13-3
06-24 West Pasco L 3-4
 
BY THE NUMBERS: HERNANDO ANGELS (0-2)
Head coach: Kay Cozart
Date Opponent Result
06-22 West Pasco L 0-10
06-23 Spring Hill L 1-8
 
BY THE NUMBERS: SPRING HILL PONYTAILS (2-2)
Head coach: Kevin Riecss
Date Opponent Result
06-19 West Pasco W 14-3
06-22 East Pasco W 11-1
06-23 Hernando L 2-4
06-24 West Pasco L 2-5

BY THE NUMBERS: HERNANDO BELLES (1-2)
Head coach: Cliff Manuel
Date Opponent Result
06-22 Wesley Chapel W 21-0
06-23 Spring Hill L 2-4
06-23 West Pasco L 6-9

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT