TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Hernando Ponytails Win 6-3, But It's Still A Close Shave

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: June 27, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - When Hernando Dixie League Ponytails (ages 11-12) All-Stars Manager Danny Harvey was getting ready to begin this week's District 4 girls softball tournament, little did he and assistant coach David Goodwin know that a haircut would be part of the bargain.

But Wednesday night in the tournament final, Harvey got some outstanding relief pitching from Ann-Marie Rojero to lift Hernando to a 6-3 win over West Pasco and advance the team to the State Tournament beginning July 3 in Belleview.

Although the game at Oakridge Park in New Port Richey was delayed more than four hours by a rain storm, Harvey's Hernando club came back to win the tournament by getting three hits from Jordan Huggins, two hits apiece from Danielle Harvey and Rojero, and seven strikeouts from Rojero.

Because of that, both Goodwin and Harvey will be getting their heads shaved by their players early next week. Listening to the coach, getting a bald head is all right by him.

"We get it next Monday at practice," said Harvey. "We told them before the tournament that if we won, Coach Goodwin and me would let the team shave our heads."

The final game was set up earlier in the week when West Pasco beat Hernando, 5-3, in the double-elimination tournament.

Wednesday Hernando jumped to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a double from Harvey, a walk to Ta-Shylla Brockington, an RBI single by Huggins and a throwing error in the second inning.

But in the fourth, West Pasco scored three runs and had runners at second and third when Harvey called on Rojero to relieve starting pitcher Tana McDaniel.

The Parrott Middle School pitcher, who will be attending Nature Coast Technical next year, came through. Rojero struck out Madison Stafford and Erin Beam to end the threat in the fourth and ended the game allowing two walks and no hits in 2 2/3 innings.

"I'm not surprised at all that she did that," said Harvey about Rojero's relief work. "We have three good pitchers in McDaniel, Rojero and Courtney Riddle."

McDaniel started Wednesday's game while Riddle struck out 15 batters in a 5-3 loss to West Pasco earlier in the tournament.

Hernando ended the tournament with a 3-1 record as it defeated Wesley Chapel, 15-0, Spring Hill, 4-2, and lost to West Pasco the previous day.

Harvey also said his team was dedicating the win to Hernando Youth League President Richard Hayden and his wife Kathy.

"They have done a lot for the league and this year they are stepping down. The Ponytails have never won a district tournament since they have been their," said Harvey. "And the girls and the coaches wanted to get this tournament for them."

Hernando 6, West Pasco 3
WP 000 300 -- 3 2 4
HER 020 31X -- 6 10 2
WP - Stanilow, Gamarra (3), Stanilow (4), Gamarra (5) and Reinhardt.
HER - McDaniel, Rojero (4) and Huggins.
W - Rojero.
L - Stanilow.
2B - Stanilow (WP); Harvey (HER).
3B - None.
HR - None.
Records - West Pasco (4-2), Hernando (3-1).

Dixie Youth League Ponytails
All-Stars District 4 Tournament Recap
at New Port Richey's Oakridge Park,

06-19:
Spring Hill 14, West Pasco 3

06-20:
Hernando 15, Wesley Chapel 0

06-22:
Spring Hill 11, East Pasco 1
West Pasco 18, Wesley Chapel 1

06-23:
West Pasco 15, East Pasco 1
Hernando 4, Spring Hill 2

06-24:
West Pasco 5, Spring Hill 2
West Pasco 5, Hernando 3

06-25: (Championship)
Hernando 6, West Pasco 3

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT