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Hernando High senior Erica Maldonado twirled a no-hitter through three innings Tuesday night at Tom Varn Park pacing the Lady Leopards’ to its season-opening 13-1 win over archrival Central in 4 1/2 innings.

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By TONY CASTRO Hernando Today

SPORTS EDITOR

Published: February 10, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Who would have known the first inning of the season's first game meant so much?
Visiting Central High appeared on the verge of breaking through early against Hernando senior right-hander Erica Maldonado Tuesday night at Tom Varn Park.
The first of a game-high three errors by the hosts, a sacrifice bunt, a walk and a wild pitch set up Keeria McKenzie at third base and Gina Thompson at second base with one out with CHS' No. 4 and No. 5 hitters on deck.
Here, Maldonado was at her best fanning Megan Baker on a 3-2 pitch and retiring Erica Yunka on a 0-2 count changeup.
The momentum swung immediately to the Purple and Gold, who countered by sending 14 batters to the plate in the first inning against CHS starter/loser Samantha "Sam" Berberette, to score nine runs to win via the mercy rule in 4 1/2 frames, 13-1.
"They just killed us with base hits," explained Central High's second-year skipper Tyson Ellis. "We knew we had to hit the ball to stay with Hernando and we didn't. And Erica (Maldonado) threw a good game."
"We've gotten better," he added. "Defensively, we made one mistake that's it. But it seemed even when we would sting the ball, they'd make a play. We're still a very young team (only one senior) and it'll take some time to gel."

HHS heroes galore

For the hosts, Maldonado (1-0) led the way on the hill facing 13 batters across three innings. She left with a 13-1 lead. The fourth-year senior did not allow a hit, permitted one run (unearned), walked two, hit a batter, and fanned four.
"The reason why Erica is in there is because she doesn't get flustered," pointed Hernando Head Coach Kevin Bittinger. "No matter what happens, she's gonna throw strikeouts. That's exactly what happened tonight. She's just so mentally tough."
Overall?
"I'm not too happy with three errors, but it's no major concern," added Bittinger. "What I did like was all the line drives we hit. I'll take singles all day and all night. We played to our strength keeping the ball in play and using our speed."
Ashley Frye replaced Maldonado and worked a scoreless fourth and fifth inning.
Offensively, HHS rapped a game-high 10 hits, featuring three doubles.
Senior Brittany Parker paced HHS with a 3-for-3 effort including two hits and two runs batted highlighting the first-inning uprising.
Parker also had one of three defensive gems on the night. In the fourth inning she retrieved a dunker into right field off the bat of Linda Thompson. She gloved the ball and whistled a strike to shortstop Demi Maldonado to get the force on Brooke Wardlow, who had the Lady Bears' only hit, an infield single just behind first base.
"I saw the ball real well and scooted up in the box," admitted the 16-year-old Parker on her perfect night at the plate. "I think we wanted this game a little more than they did."
Katie Killingsworth went 2-for-3 and added three RBIs for the winners.
HHS, which stole five bases in five attempts, saw Demi and Erica Maldonado, Alex Hayden, Parker and Ch'antia Sanders each score two runs.
Catcher Megan Platt threw two enemy base runners out including the speedy McKenzie Burns attempting to steal third in the third inning and Keeria McKenzie attempting to swipe second in the fifth.
"I saw both runners take off," smiled the 15-year-old Platt. "But the throws were right on."
How big was the win?
"It really starts the season on the right foot," replied Platt.
Perhaps Demi Maldonado summed up HHS' first win the best.
"We made some first-game mistakes, they'll happen," remarked the 17-year-old Maldonado. "Even after we'd make a mistake, we'd pick each other back up and our pitchers settled down. I'm very proud of our "D". This was a big confidence builder for the team."

Hernando 13, Central 1 (4 1/2 Innings)
123 45 R H E
CEN 001 00 -- 1 1 1
HER 913 0X -- 13 10 3
CEN – Berberette, Baker (3) and Gina Thompson.
HER – E. Maldonado, Frye (4) and Platt.
W – E. Maldonado (1-0). L – Berberette (0-1).
2B – Hayden, E. Maldonado, Whealdon (HER).
Records - Central (0-1 overall), Hernando (1-0 overall).

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

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