Meet the Adams Family

Before Monday night's non-district, non-conference tilt against Inverness-Citrus, F.W. Springstead was hitting a collective .285.

The Eagles, however, struggled against the sling-shot type motion of right-hander Alex McAfee. McAfee had stuffed Hernando High last Friday night at Tom Varn Park, 4-0.

Against McAfee, Head Coach Craig Swartout's club hit less .100 (.095) against the 'Canes going 2-for-21 yet found a way to solve CHS by cashing in on four errors for four unearned runs in a 4-1 triumph.

On Tuesday against a short-handed Wesley Chapel team, SHS utilized a different route to collect its eighth win in its last nine starts.

Against a Wildcat team minus four starters - who fell ill during a Winter Garden Tournament this past weekend - sophomore right-hander Alexis Adams spun a two-hitter while senior Olivia D'Acunto went 4-for-4 in the Lady Eagles' 14-2 win.

The Eagle family

D'Acunto symbolized the team's resurgence at the plate. The two-time All-Hernando County receiver didn't fret after taking an 0-for-3 collar following Monday night's lethargic win over 3-10 Citrus.

Instead, the team's second-leading hitter, responded Tuesday evening with a game-high 4-for-4 effort - part of a 14-hit barrage off Wesley Chapel sophomore right-hander Carmen Henderson - as the Eagles tamed the young Wildcats (1-15-1 overall) via the mercy rule in 4 1/2 innings.

D'Acunto singled and scored in a three-run first inning and reached on a bunt single but was stranded in the second.

In the six-run third frame, D'Acunto again dropped a bunt single down and eventually scored her second run on a wild pitch.

An inning later, D'Acunto grounded a seeing-eye single up the middle but was left stranded in a five-run Eagle uprising.

Not that D'Acunto was alone.

"A game like this builds our confidence," said the 18-year-old D'Acunto. "Tonight was good because everybody got to hit and we used people in different positions."

Jamie Lee Basinger, Alexis Adams and Gina Thompson each added two hits for the Eagles (9-4), who have captured two in a row following Friday's 11-inning 3-2 loss to 5A-7 leader Ocala-Forest.

Thompson, who came in hitting .462 in limited action, finished 2-for-4.

"You've got to give credit to Wesley Chapel, those girls never quit," said the 17-year-old Thompson. "Today we made the plays as best we could."

How about her new teammates?

"I love it," said Thompson, who played for Central High with her twin sister Linda for three seasons before transferring. "They're all really great. The team welcomed us with open arms. It couldn't be better."

Basinger drove in a game-high three runs batted in featuring a two-run single in the third and a fielder's choice in the fourth.

Basinger, who entered the game hitting an uncharacteristic .275 including a 0-for-3 collar on Monday, took the win in stride.

"As the season has gone on, I've improved a lot," said the 18-year-old Basinger. "I've begun to hit better after spending extra hitting in the cage after practice. Today was good because we all got to hit."

Amanda Drawe, Lizzy Markidis and Kelsey Straquadine each knocked in a pair of runs for the hosts.
Adams carried a no-hit bid into the top of the fifth.

Down 14-0, fleet-footed WCHS junior Gabriella Brown reached on a leadoff infield single and quickly stole second base. Bernie Viera followed with an RBI single to right plating Brown, 1-0.

Viera, who stole second and advanced on a fielder's choice, scored on a wild pitch before Adams fanned Anissa Cruz to end the game. All told, Adams fanned nine striking out two in every inning except the second and retired 12 in a row until Brown reached.

Coaches' corner

Despite the loss, WCHS first-year Head Coach Walter Sayers looked at the overall picture.

"Today wasn't a good day to see us," said Sayers. "We were short four starters to the flu. I'm the fourth coach here in four years; so every year is a rebuilding year. I've just concentrated on our team pitching strikes and playing defense.

"I was very impressed on how we put the ball in play against a very good pitcher (Adams)," said Sayers. "This was the first time I've seen her. What I liked most was our kids never gave up, really that's all you can ask from your kids."

"We caught Wesley Chapel when they were a little depleted," said Coach Swartout. "We got to work on our bunting and some of the girls that don't usually get a lot of at-bats saw some action.

"The biggest thing was we finished early (63 minutes) and now we get to go home and get ready tomorrow for Crystal River."

Springstead 14, Wesley Chapel 2 (4 1/2 Inns.)
123 45 R H E
WC 000 02 -- 2 2 3
SPG 306 5X -- 14 14 0
WC - Henderson and Smallwood.
SPG - Adams and Straquadine.
W - Adams (9-4). L - Henderson.
2B - Markidis (SPG).
Records - Wesley Chapel (1-15-1 overall), Springstead (9-4 overall).