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Panthers 'Drawe' the Line

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

In the most controversial play of the day, Powell second sacker Jeneisi Brigidio appears to slide under the tag of Parrott pitcher Ann-Marie Rojero for the final out of the fifth inning. Brigidio, however, was called out in the Panthers’ eventual 2-0 win over the Leopards at Springstead High.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: March 12, 2009

SPRING HILL - There's an old adage that says big-time players show up in big-time moments.
Well, welcome to the world of Powell Middle School right-hander Hailey Drawe.
Drawe was locked in a scoreless duel Thursday afternoon at Springstead against the county's other No. 1 team, Parrott.
Leopard seventh-grader Ann-Marie Rojero kept her squad in the game by scattering eight hits. She helped herself by enticing 12 fly ball outs, stranding six Powell runners, including four in scoring position. She helped her cause with three strikeouts against one free pass.
While Rojero's efforts were commendable, Drawe, an eighth-grader, dominated.
The freckled-face pitcher handcuffed the rugged hitting Leopard squad to a pair of infield singles by Ebone Plummer and Rojero. In the process, Drawe fanned at least one Leopard in every inning, including 12 overall without issuing a free pass.
Hailey, who will join her older sister Amanda at Springstead High next fall, was backed by an air-tight defense that converted 25-of-25 chances.
Shortstop Kaitlyn Glynn, a seventh-grader, sparkled with three gems, robbing Bre Mobley twice while second sacker Jeneisi Brigidio climbed a ladder to take away a possible extra base hit from Tana McDaniel to end the fourth.
Most importantly, Powell (8-1 overall) took advantage of the game's only two miscues to break through for an unearned run in the critical fifth inning to eventually solve Parrott (6-2), 2-0.
"I had good stuff today," smiled the 14-year-old Drawe about her mound accomplishments. "This was a big-time game. And yeah I was a little nervous when it was still 0-0 in the fifth. Before that we were pumped up, but we left people on base."
How pivotal was the win?
"This was major," admitted Drawe. "We have one goal left on Tuesday: no walks, play solid "D" and hit the ball super."
"My hat goes off to Parrott, they came ready to play," explained Powell Head Coach Charlene Francisco, who marveled on how hard both teams played. "It's unfortunate, that somebody's gotta lose.
"We were fortunate. It seemed like everything came together today," added Francisco. "Defensively, this was our best game of the year. Pitching-wise Hailey (Drawe) has done the job all season long. But what impressed me the most was her poise and composure against a very solid Leopard team. It just seemed when anybody got on base, she focused even harder. I got to also give props to our catcher (Mariah Crawford), those two are on the same page when they call pitches."
Key?
"When the opportunity knocked in the fifth, things finally happened for us," replied Francisco. "As coaches we were worried about Parrott's explosiveness. But give our defense credit; every time Parrott put the ball in play, we made the plays behind Hailey.
"I got to thank Alicia (Antczak) and Jeneisi (Brigidio) – they both came up with huge hits today," summed up Francisco. "Today was a total team effort."

Rally time

The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the fifth with Powell sixth-grader Kelli Wall coaxed the game's only walk off Rojero.
With one out, Drawe, who had clubbed two hits, fouled out just behind third base to Perrisha Mobley. Though Mobley collected the second out, she thought Wall had strayed too far off first base and whistled a throw across the diamond. Unfortunately, the relay sailed over the bag allowing Wall to scamper into second.
The mistake was quickly cashed in as the eighth-grade Brigidio slapped the next pitch into left for a key RBI double. When the left fielder overthrew the cutoff, Brigidio slid into third base. With Mariah Crawford at the plate, Rojero hurled the next pitch to the backstop where the catcher Allysyn Fraccica quickly dished to Rojero covering the plate. In a bang-bang play at the plate, Brigidio was called out attempting to score to end the threat.
Fortunately, Powell tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning on a pair of infield singles by Dana Mackiewicz and Hannah McMurray followed by an RBI single by Alicia Antczak. Marisa Hoffman lined into a double play to again squash the threat.
Meanwhile, Drawe took the mound in the seventh and fanned the last three batters she faced to close out the game in impressive fashion.
Drawe, McMurray and Antczak each had two hits apiece for the hosts to lead the offense.
The Powell defensive, however, took center stage in the post-game discussion.
"I thought we did good," said the 13-year-old Glynn. "Even if Parrott got on base, we made sure they didn't score. Even when the game was scoreless I didn't have any doubts we could hold 'em."
"Defensively we played well," added the 14-year-old Brigidio. "I thought we came in well prepared and we were focused from the first batter on. I give props to Hailey. We kept cheering her on and she kept striking them out. It was a pretty big win."
"Hailey pitched excellent," chimed the 13-year-old Antczak. "She pitched great and I'm real happy to get a big hit. It kinda motivated us to win."

Powell 2, Parrott 0 (5 Innings)
123 456 7 R H E
PAR 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2
POW 000 011 x -- 2 8 0
PAR – Rojero and Fraccica.
POW – Drawe and Crawford.
W – Drawe (7-1). L – Rojero.
2B – Brigidio (POW).
3B – Drawe (POW).
HR - none.
Records – Parrott (7-2 overall), Powell (8-1 overall).

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

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