Short-handed Sharks Blank Leopards, 3-0

Take away, say any two starters from any prep softball team, and normally that spells a long night.
Especially when the team is minus its captain, All-County catcher Jen Marshall, and third baseman Mikalya Miller.
Yet, upstart Nature Coast Technical continued to weave its early season magic Tuesday night against host Hernando at Tom Varn Park.
It didn't seem to matter that the Sharks were minus two key ingredients from last spring's Hernando County championship squad. Quite simply, the replacements did the job.
Freshman Kelsey McManus replaced Miller and went 1-for-3 with a run batted in while freshman catcher Jeri Loeffler did not throw any runners out, but was steady behind the plate.
Another All-County selection last spring, Shark right-hander Ashley Antczak, dominated the Leopards throwing a complete-game, 3-hitter (all singles) as the Sharks climbed to 3-0 toppling Hernando (2-1 overall, 1-1 4A-8), 3-0.
"Our defense was huge tonight," summed up the defending Hernando County Coach of the Year NCT skipper Mettina Coute. "We made the easy plays and hard plays."
And Antczk's efforts?
"She's doing great," said Coach Coute. "She works her tail off. She deserves everything she gets. She's matured so much. What I liked most was the way the girls that filled in really stepped up. They exceeded our expectations in how well they played."
How pivotal was the win?
"This was definitely not just another game," indicated Coach Coute. "This proves how solid we are on "D" even with our depth being tested. It was a good, competitive game. It's one we needed to see."

Antczak rules

For the third consecutive game, Antczak was the difference. The third-year starter did not allow a run facing 25 batters across seven innings. She fanned three and issued one walk.
She spaced out singles to Erica Maldonado, Ch'antia Sanders and Katie Killingsworth, stranding four runners on base.
Antczak wiggled out of several potential threats. With one out in the second inning with Killingsworth at third base, Antczak struck out Sanders and Shelby Stocker.
With two outs in the third and Demi Maldonado on second on an Antczak throwing error, she enticed Alex Hayden into a harmless comebacker for the final out.
In the fourth after Erica Maldonado reached on a leadoff single, her defense rose to the occasion. Hernando's Brittany Parker ripped a shot between first and second base that All-County infielder Lizzie Olmstead speared in the air and fired to first sacker Nikki Beverley to complete the game's lone double play.
Finally in the fifth after Sanders led off with a single, Stocker's liner to the right side unfortunately caught Sanders on the foot for an automatic out. Antczak proceeded to retire Megan Platt and Sarah Whealdon to close the frame.
All told, the Shark defense converted 29-of-30 chances in back of Antczak.
"Our defense was amazing," expressed the 16-year-old Antczak. "I'd die for anyone of these girls. When I make a mistake, they pick me up. That's what teammates are supposed to do."
Offensively, Beverley went 3-for-4 for the visitors with three singles.
NCT opened the scoring with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth off Hernando right-hander Casey Bilodeau (1-1). Bilodeau was victimized by the team's only error and a passed ball followed by Olmstead's run-producing infield single.
A walk to Shawnna Henry and singles by Beverley and McManus added an insurance run in the fifth.
"I've been really working on my hitting," explained the 16-year-old Beverley. "Tonight, I kinda came out of a slump. I had been double striding. It seemed I was much more relaxed tonight at the plate."
Stephanie Sinwelski replaced Bilodeau on the hill and hurled two scoreless innings to close the books.
Despite the setback, fourth-year Hernando Head Coach Kevin Bittinger was not throwing in the towel on the season.
"Just like last year, the games against Nature Coast have boiled to a few plays. Tonight, they made 'em and we didn't."
Positives?
"Our pitchers threw well," he said. "And for the most part our defense played right there with 'em. But we've got to hit the ball; we're not going to win if we can't score."
Overall?
"This was fine high school softball game," Bittinger stated. "A handful of plays were the difference. I'm telling you we can play with those guys. The pre-season talk centered on Pasco, Zephyrhills and Nature Coast and not on us. But I'm telling you come April we're gonna be right there in the thick of things."

Nature Coast Technical 3, Hernando 0
123 456 7 R H E
NCT 000 210 0 -- 3 7 1
HER 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1
NCT - Antczak and Loeffler.
HER - Bilodeau, Sinwelski (5) and Platt.
W - Antczak (3-0). L - Bilodeau (1-1).
2B - none.
3B - none.
HR - none.
Records - Nature Coast Technical (3-0 overall, 3-0 4A-8), Hernando (2-1 overall, 1-1 4A-8).