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Hernando Today

Manuel Overdrive

SOFTBALL

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando Christian Academy junior Madison Manuel laces a two-run triple in the third inning against Springstead High Tuesday evening in Brooksville.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: March 24, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Until this spring, the county's most decorated prep softball program across the past five years still had some untamed horizons.
Entering 2009, though Hernando Christian Academy has reeled off five consecutive district championships, it felt like it was a second-class citizen.
Mostly because it has not been able to beat county teams in its own backyard.
That all ended when HCA Head Coach Ernie Chatman arrived on campus with a different direction.
Prior to the season, Coach Chatman assembled a schedule to face a number of much larger teams. The intent was simple enough. The days of beating up on its Class 1A brethren and then disappearing in the post season playoffs would be conquered by playing a much more difficult schedule – including some county opponents.
HCA entered Tuesday's non-district, non-conference game against Springstead with a glossy 8-0 mark against 1A programs, but stood 3-3 against tougher 2A, 3A and 4A and 5A competition. After a 10-0 start, the Lions had dropped 3-of-4.
To emphasis the current state of affairs, despite HCA's winning ways, it still had never beaten Springstead – dropping all four lifetime meetings.
The hosts again appeared in trouble Tuesday committing two first-inning errors – two of a game-high five on the day – to trail the Lady Eagles, 1-0.
But three hits and the Eagles' lone error led to a four-run, fourth-inning rally that paved the way to a 7-5 win over the Spring Hill nine.
The difference?
"We happened to hit the ball with runners in scoring position," recalled Coach Chatman. "We made a lot of good plays today, but we were very sloppy, defensively, especially after we led (7-1).
"Madison (Manuel) was really clutch today," added Chatman. "She's been hitting the ball real well."
From the visiting dugout, Head Coach Craig Swartout was not making excuses for his team's sixth straight loss.
"You've got to play the cards that are dealt," he said without remorse. "We're not making any excuses. Nobody's gonna be crying for Springstead. Injuries or no injuries, we've all got to get better."

Several HCA standouts

Junior centerfielder Madison Manuel, who came in hitting .452, paced the Lions (12-3) with a perfect 3-for-3 effort and a game-high four runs batted in. Manuel's 2-run triple to right-center highlighted the four-run third-inning uprising.
In the next frame, she crushed a two-run double to left-center to enable the Lions to erect a 7-1 lead off Springstead starting pitcher Jamie Lee Basinger.
Heidi Riley, who came into the game scorching the ball with a .614 average, went 2-for-3 including a pair of doubles. She followed Manuel's two-bagger with an RBI double. Both Riley and freshman Remi Manuel collected two hits apiece.
Here, Coach Swartout opted for freshman right-hander Brittany Flannery. Flannery kept the Lions at bay by retiring all seven batters she faced a sterling 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief.
In the meantime, SHS crept back into the game with two hits and three more Lion errors in the sixth. Basinger's three-run double cleared the bases before Amanda Drawe grounded out to end the threat, 7-5.
With one out in the seventh, the visitors had one last chance. Shannon Cataldo smashed a line drive up the middle that glanced off Lion starting pitcher Holly Field for an infield single. Though Field walked one and struck out three, Coach Chatman opted for closer, sixth-grader Courtney Riddle.
Riddle walked Jen Stevens to put the tying runs on base before retiring Katie Blizzard on a strikeout and Flannery on a comebacker to earn her third save. Before Flannery grounded out, she had gone 3-for-3 against Field.
Field (9-1) earned the mound win scattering eight Springstead hits.
What was the difference in the game?
"I think we practice an awful lot, but it pays off," said the nervous 16-year-old Field. "Today, we made a few errors, but we also did a lot of good things."
What about Manuel's 3-for-3 efforts?
"She did amazing," added Field.
For her part, Manuel credited Coach Chatman with her hot bat.
"We all practice a lot," admitted the 16-year-old Manuel. "But Coach Chatman has helped my hitting a lot. I was over striding."
How critical was the county win?
"This is big," smiled Manuel. "We all were looking forward to this game. The recent losses have been stressful, so we needed a win like this to boost us up."
For her part, Riley praised Field.
"She's real consistent," described the 17-year-old Riley of Field's mound approach. "She threw a lot of pitches today. Normally, we make more plays than we did today."
Why was this win so vital?
"It's great playing bigger schools like Springstead," added Riley. "When we make mistakes against some of the other 1A teams, we get away with them. But against teams like Springstead, they jumped right back into the game."
"This was a huge win," added Riley. "I don't want to sound cocky or conceited, but Central beating us the last time was a fluke. A lot of teams don't give us our due. The fluke was not winning the second time against Central. We're a much better team than people give us credit."

HCA 7, Springstead 5
123 456 7 R H E
SPG 100 004 0 -- 5 8 1
HCA 000 430 X -- 7 9 5
SPG – Basinger, Flannery (4) and Stevens.
HCA – Field, Riddle (7) and Riley.
W – Field (9-1). L – Basinger. SV – Riddle (3).
2B – Basinger (SPG); Riley (2), M. Manuel (HCA).
3B – M. Manuel (HCA).
Records – Springstead (4-12 overall), Hernando Christian Academy (12-3 overall).

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

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