County Rivals Square Off

When the Dixie Darlings (ages 7-8) All-Stars District 4 Tournament kicks off today; the two Hernando County squads in the four-team field will square off.

Spring Hill plays Hernando at 6 p.m. at Oakridge Park in New Port Richey, each team hoping to begin a journey to the State Tournament starting July 3 in Belleview. Wesley Chapel and West Pasco are also in the double-elimination tournament.

Spring Hill enters this all-star season as the defending state champion as this age level. However, not a single player from last year's squad has returned.

This year's edition of the team features Abigail Pons, Adrianna Moore, Heather Shagoury, Jordyn Cotroneo, Megan McClellan, Delaney Woodall, Kylie Canova, Madyson Lamp, Gabrielle Custodio, Makailey Benard, Randi Kordon and Sarah Birchill.

In fact the only returning member of that team is Head Coach Mark Kordon. He served as an assistant under Melissa Russell, as another of his daughters, Celine, was on that team.

"This year there's a lot of first-timers," Kordon said. "They're not too experienced. They're not too sure what they're getting into. They're not too sure what they're going to see.

"They hit the ball very well. We'll find out how we'll do in the field. We're playing teams with 12 other all-stars, which is something they're not used to."

Kordon feels he has a strong hitting team, as Spring Hill is one of the few leagues that have players pitch rather than coaches.

This tournament will feature strictly coach pitch, and there are no walks. Each batter has five pitches to put the ball in play, putting a premium on the defense.

"The fielding will probably by the biggest key at this age group," Kordon said. "We're facing 12 kids that can hit the ball. No walks and very few strikeouts. The biggest key is can kids make outs."

Kordon said that his players are aware of what last year's Darlings accomplished, mostly through some of their older sisters who were on that team. That sets the bar fairly high.

"The goal is to get to Belleview, which I'm sure is the goal of the other three teams," Kordon said. "It'd be good to win at least this level so we can go to Belleview, which is a great experience for the girls."

Hernando: consistency

Hernando Head Coach Pasha Darby came up with one word to describe the strength of his team: consistency.

"In the past when you get this age group, you get girls that didn't want to go to practice all the time," Darby said. "By the end of the season it's almost like a job for them. They're just having a blast. It's not a job for them."

Darby's team consists of Samantha Burnette, Ashley Carter, Savannah Darby, Angelina Desmond, Breana Desmond, Jessica Flaherty, Savanna Jarema, Katlynn Johnson, Janea Mobley, Taylyn Murwin, Grace Sharp and Ali Shenefield.

"We've got a really good team," Darby said. "We don't have the superstars we had before, but everyone plays together."

The coach pointed to his defense as the team's strong suit, but also felt he had an offense capable of scoring 20 runs when everyone gets hot.

He looks forward to seeing Spring Hill in the first game. Spring Hill and Hernando teams play one another during the regular season.

"They have a strong team. They'll be tough to beat," Darby said. "You've got two good teams; it's going to be a really good game.

"I'd rather play the best team there the first game and see where we stand. I'm sure they probably feel the same way."

2008 Hernando Darlings (ages 7-8) All-Stars
Name Position
Samantha Burnette 2B
Ashley Carter INF/OF
Savannah Darby C/INF
Angelina Desmond 1B
Breana Desmond OF
Jessica Flaherty OF
Savanna Jarema SS
Katlynn Johnson INF/OF
Janea Mobley P/1B
Taylyn Murwin P/1B
Grace Sharp C/INF
Ali Shenefield OF
Head Coach: Pasha Darby   
Assistant coaches: Steve Burnette, Nathan Carter, Dwayne Mobley
 
2008 Spring Hill Darlings (ages 7-8) All-Stars
Name Position
Abigail Pons OF
Adrianna Moore C
Heather Shagoury SS
Jordyn Cotroneo OF
Megan McClellan P
Delaney Woodall 1B
Kylie Canova P
Madyson Lamp P
Gabrielle Custodio OF
Makailey Benard OF
Randi Kordon 2B
Sarah Birchill 3B
Head Coach: Mark Kordon
Assistant coaches: Diane McClellan, Darle Conova
 
COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHO: Hernando, East Pasco, West Pasco, Spring Hill, Wesley Chapel.
WHAT: Dixie Darlings (ages 7-8) All-Stars District 4 Tournament
WHEN: June 20-22
WHERE: Oakridge Park in New Port Richey
AT STAKE: District championship and spot in July 3 State Tournament at Belleview.
DIRECTIONS: Turn left on Trinity Boulevard off State Road 54. Turn right on Little Road, turn left on Mitchell Boulevard. Turn right on Seven Springs Boulevard. The park is located at 2141 Seven Springs Blvd.