Thu. March 7, 2013 | Matt Baker | Email
Softball super seven
1. River Ridge (8-0): Ernie Beck’s Royal Knights have outscored opponents 105-11, and ace Makenzie Goluba has only allowed one earned run. Competition in PHU’s tournament this weekend will be fierce and show how strong River Ridge is.
2. Gulf (9-0): The Buccaneers have been almost as dominant as the Knights, with an undefeated start and beating opponents by a combined score of 78-7. Junior Madison Morlan is making a strong case as Pasco County’s top pitcher (48 innings, 46 strikeouts, two earned runs).
3. Mitchell (6-2): No shame in the Mustangs’ two losses — to River Ridge and East Lake — especially considering Mitchell’s quality wins against Hudson and Zephyrhills. Cassidy Neptune (12 RBIs, .538 average) is off to a blazing start.
4. Hernando (6-2): Convincing victories over Springstead and Nature Coast leave no doubt that Courtney Riddle and the Leopards are the cream of Hernando County. But it won’t be easy to crack into the playoffs in Class 5A, District 7.
5. Zephyrhills (7-3): The Bulldogs look like the No. 2 team in a district (5A-8) that’s up for grabs. Keep an eye on sophomore Lindsey Hupp, who’s already knocked in 13 runs.
6. Wiregrass Ranch (6-4): The Bulls are a 5-0 against North Suncoast teams — and winless against Hillsborough County district foes.
7. Springstead (5-3): The Eagles aren’t as dominant as last year, but, as this week’s 7-5 win over Central shows, they can still get the job done.
Statistics
Batting
(minimum 15 at-bats)
Player, school AB H BA
A. McKay, HCA 18 14 .778
L. Evans, AATL 15 11 .733
M. Tolle, RR 30 21 .700
K. Gracie, Anc 26 17 .654
S. Boynton, AATL 18 11 .611
K. McCarthy, Cen 28 17 .607
N. Sedivy, Gulf 21 12 .571
K. Parker, Pas 36 20 .556
L. Burchfield, Pas 29 16 .552
C. Neptune, Mit 26 14 .538
M. Palmer, RR 24 12 .500
B. Pressler, Gulf 29 14 .483
T. McDaniel, Her 27 13 .481
S. Morales, WR 25 12 .480
Home runs
5: Tolle (RR); 3: Maguire (RR), McCarthy (Cen) 2: Power (RR), Neptune (Mit), Mowery (WR), McKay (HCA), Field (HCA); 1: McElderry (Fiv), Sedivy (Gulf), McDaniel (Her), Lane (Her), Riddle (Her), Parker (Pas), Lane (Pas), Seekins (Zep), Jordan (Zep), Dewitt (Hud), Frances (Sun), Trina (WR), Koehler (Cen), Charlwood (Cen), Rodriguez (NCT)
RBIs
24: Tolle (RR); 14: McKay (HCA); 13: Maguire (RR), McDaniel (Her), Hupp (Zep), McCarthy (Cen) 12: Riddle (Her), Caudill (Pas), Neptune (Mit), David (NCT); 11: Sedivy (Gulf), Parker (Pas), Lane (Pas), Koehler (Cen); 10: Borges (Anc), Goluba (RR), Morlan (Gulf), Britton (Pas), Frances (Sun)
Pitching
(minimum 10 innings)
Player, school IP W-L ERA
M. Goluba, RR 32 6-0 0.22
M. Morlan, Gulf 48 8-0 0.29
J. Rennard, Zep 12 1-0 0.58
C. Riddle, Her 55.2 6-2 1.01
A. McKay, HCA 24.1 4-0 1.44
J. McElderry, Fiv 45 4-3 1.71
K. Deem, Zep 32.2 4-1 1.71
J. Fowler, Mit 17.1 3-1 2.02
M. Stanilou, Mit 26.2 3-1 2.36
M. Cohen, WR 11.1 0-1 2.47
Strikeouts
76: Brown (Hud); 74: McElderry (Fiv); 67: Riddle (Her); 53: McKay (HCA); 46: Morlan (Gulf); 41: Goluba (RR); 36: Tipton (LOL); 35: Boynton (AATL), Koehler (Cen); 31: Fowler (Mit), Deem (Zep); 24: Stanilou (Mit); 23: Borges (Anc); 20: Micciche (Sun)