As West Pasco Defense Rests, Spring Hill Rallies

NEW PORT RICHEY - A crisply played opening-round ballgame of the Dixie Belles (ages 13-15) All-Stars District 4 Tournament turned south for one team Friday night.

Fortunately for Spring Hill, it wasn't that team. Instead, Spring Hill benefited from eight West Pasco errors and received strong pitching by Brooke Sager and Alexis Adams en route to a 5-2 victory.

"I think it really came down to pitching," Spring Hill Head Coach Louie Caiazzo said. "I think that was key, and timely hitting.

"...I think (Sager and Adams) were focused. Sager found the strike zone, did what she wanted to do, mixed up her pitches. And Alexis Adams, forget it. She's very tough to hit."

Both teams had just one hit apiece heading into the fourth inning, when West Pasco finally dented the scoreboard.

With two runners in scoring position and two outs, West Pasco starting pitching Ana Alberti helped herself by smacking a two-run double to the wall in right-center field.

Gina Thompson singled with one out in the bottom half, went to second on an errant pickoff throw and scored when the pitcher made a poor throw to first on Adams' chopper in front of the mound.

Megan Baker hit a two-out dribbler down the third-base line that the pitcher fielded and also misfired to first, plating Adams with the tying run.

The flame-throwing Adams took the mound in the bottom half, switching places with Sager, who replaced Adams behind the plate.

Adams held West Pasco scoreless over three innings, allowing only two base runners on an error and a single in the sixth.

Meanwhile, Brooke Young drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth on a single to right-center, bringing around Sager, who reached on a two-base error.

Spring Hill scored two insurance runs in the sixth when the second baseman allowed Baker's grounder to go through her legs.

"Defense and inconsistently hitting the ball," West Pasco Head Coach Mike Mullennex said. "Young kids, a little nervous butterflies. We've got to get our bats back, that's what we need to do."

West Pasco moved on to an elimination game Saturday afternoon versus East Pasco. Spring Hill advanced to a game Sunday afternoon against a yet to be determined opponent.

"I think anytime a team comes back from a deficit it shows character," Caiazzo said. "Hopefully it will carry over but it's only one game.

"It's good. Anytime you start in the winner's bracket, it's always a good feeling and to play the way we came out."