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Offensive explosion

DIXIE DEBS SOFTBALL

Photo by ROBERT CAMPBELL

Spring Hill pitcher Heather Brown delivers a pitch during Saturday's Dixie Debs All-Stars State Tournament game against Mulberry.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: July 4, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - A day earlier, Louie Caiazzo didn't mask his frustration with his team's offensive performance in Friday's 3-1 loss to West Pasco.

"We had opportunities, men in scoring position a few innings, and we couldn't get them in," the Spring Hill Debs (ages 16-18) All-Stars head coach said. "Same old story. We couldn't hit the ball."

Not exactly the greatest way to open the double-elimination State Tournament at Tom Varn Park, though Caiazzo has some history to lean on with this group that won the Belles state crown last year.

"We've been in this situation before," Caiazzo said. "Down one and we've won the rest."

Flash forward to Spring Hill's first game on Saturday, an elimination contest versus Mulberry with a vastly different outcome: a 20-8 victory for Spring Hill in five innings.

"The opponent isn't the same as we played yesterday," Caiazzo said. "The fact of the matter is we should score 20 runs, but maybe the girls are more relaxed, have the jitters out and now we're capable of winning the whole thing. We've just got to make the plays."

Spring Hill pounded out 13 hits, though only one for extra bases, a RBI double by Linda Thompson that fell between two outfielders.

Mulberry's inability to throw strikes accounted for just as much of the scoring barrage, considering Spring Hill worked 12 walks and had one girl hit by a pitch in the first three innings alone to open up a 13-0 lead.

Speedy center fielder Keeria McKenzie hit out of the leadoff spot, reaching base and scoring four times while collecting three singles and a walk. She also stole three bases and posted one RBI.

"Yesterday being our first game, we were a little rusty," McKenzie said. "Toward the end we started coming back. Today we came out to not think about yesterday. Focus on this game and we really did.

"…I think I'm doing real good. My judgment of the ball is better. I make them pitch to me. Before I just used to swing."

The soon-to-be Central High senior and her current Spring Hill teammates had to turn around and play another game Saturday afternoon against Wahneta. Results were unavailable at press time.

"I think they were a little more focused today," Caiazzo said. "They know what's at stake hopefully. But we've got to see."

SPRING HILL 20, MULBERRY 8 (5 INN.)
123 45 R H E
SH 364 43 -- 20 13 3
MUL 002 42 -- 8 9 6
SH – Brown, Cataldo (3), Baker (4), Brown (5) and Palermo, Munsey (3), Palermo (5).
MUL – Smith, Strickland (2), Robinson (5) and Li. Bedsole, Massey (4).
W – Brown (1-1). L – Smith .
2B – L. Thompson (SH).
3B – none.
HR – none.
Records – Spring Hill (1-1), Mulberry (0-2).

DIXIE DEBS (AGES 16-18) STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
at Tom Varn Park

07-03:
West Pasco 3, Spring Hill 1
Hernando 10, Mulberry 0 (5 inn.)

07-04:
West Pasco 10, Wahneta 0 (6 inn.)
Spring Hill 20, Mulberry 8 (5 inn.)

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

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