The first postseason in Freedom softball history has been extended. First by the weather, and now by some timely offense. Caroline Whiteside’s bases-loaded walk in the second stood up as the winning RBI for the Patriots, who struck early and held on for a 4-2 win against reigning state champ ...
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Thu. May 02, 2013 at 7:11 p.m. | Joey Knight
Region softball semifinals 7 p.m. Tuesday unless noted Durant (20-8) at Palm Harbor University (24-4) First pitch: 4 p.m. At stake: Winner faces Orlando Timber Creek/Orlando East River winner in Friday’s Class 8A region finals Who’s hot for Durant: Everyone with a bat. The Cougars, hitting .363 as a team, ...
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Mon. April 29, 2013 at 3:37 p.m. | Joey Knight
CLEARWATER — The stretch of zeroes on the scoreboard extended through six innings as Freedom and Countryside, teams known for offense, had trouble manufacturing runs in Wednesday’s Class 7A region quarterfinal. It appeared to be more of the same in the seventh as the Patriots led off the inning with ...
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Wed. April 24, 2013 at 11:08 p.m. | Bob Putnam
GIBSONTON — If East Bay needed any motivation, the Indians didn’t have to look far. Perched behind the plate were a number of Indians from the 2010 state championship team, and their presence didn’t go unnoticed. “It’s an exciting thing knowing they were here for us,” catcher Madison Culver said. ...
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Thu. April 18, 2013 at 11:01 p.m. | Brandon Wright
TAMPA — Freedom had been down this road before. A season ago, the Patriots defeated Steinbrenner in both regular-season matchups but lost to the Warriors in the all-important district semifinal. On Wednesday, Freedom faced the exact same scenario, needing a victory over Steinbrenner to advance to the district final after ...
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Wed. April 17, 2013 at 9:49 p.m. | Bryan Burns
Softball super seven Records through Tuesday 1. Strawberry Crest (20-2): Chargers won seven of their 10 district games by 10-run rule 2. Durant (16-8): Cougars, 2-0 winners Tuesday vs. Chamberlain, are team no one wants to play 3. Chamberlain (17-7): Chiefs coach Bobby Diez livid over his team’s offensive execution ...
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Wed. April 10, 2013 at 11:38 a.m. | Joey Knight
Softball super seven Records through Tuesday 1. Strawberry Crest (18-2): Chargers came one bad inning from winning Bartow Home of Champions tourney 2. Chamberlain (16-6): Chiefs crushed Durant, which didn’t pitch Paige Davis, in Bartow tournament 3. Durant (14-8): Cougars dropped three in Bartow but have won seven district games ...
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Wed. April 03, 2013 at 11:14 a.m. | Joey Knight
Softball super seven Records through Tuesday 1. Strawberry Crest (14-1): Chargers face stiffest competition of season at this weekend’s Bartow tournament 2. Chamberlain (13-4): Tuesday’s huge 1-0 win at Freedom avenged one of Chiefs’ two in-county defeats 3. Durant (11-5): Not so sure Cougars, winners of three in a row, ...
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Wed. March 27, 2013 at 12:43 p.m. | Joey Knight
TAMPA — It was happening again. Chamberlain had a seventh-inning lead on Freedom, only the Patriots weren’t going away. But there would be no comeback Tuesday as the Chiefs held on for a dramatic 1-0 road victory. Freedom’s bid to tie, a hard-hit and sinking ball to center by Rachel ...
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Tue. March 26, 2013 at 10:29 p.m. | Darek Sharp
Softball super seven 1. Strawberry Crest (11-1): As a team, Chargers hitting .475 (12 homers) against modest schedule 2. Wharton (8-2): Wildcats could be without Michigan State signee Kassidy Kujawa (wrist) all season 3. Freedom (11-1): Pats show no spring-break rust in Tuesday’s 8-0 romp of Steinbrenner 4. Chamberlain (10-4): ...
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Wed. March 20, 2013 at 2:24 p.m. | Joey Knight
Softball super seven Results through Wednesday 1. Wharton (7-1): Wildcats fell to 25th in MaxPreps national poll after 1-0 loss to Bloomingdale. 2. Chamberlain (7-2): Chiefs remain at No. 2 spot via quality wins (Crest, Bloomingdale, Plant). 3. Strawberry Crest (9-1): Wednesday’s 5-2 triumph vs. error-prone Durant was a statement ...
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Thu. March 07, 2013 at 3:45 p.m. | Joey Knight
TAMPA — A few leftover particles of the old Durant magic materialized Tuesday night. There was junior Madi Taylor, smashing a two-run home run in the first varsity start of her life and second at-bat of the season. There was veteran ace Paige Davis, whiffing an Alonso batter on an ...
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Wed. Feb. 27, 2013 at 2:02 p.m. | Joey Knight
WESLEY CHAPEL — The mannerisms haven't changed in nearly a quarter-century. Veteran Chamberlain softball coach Bob Diez spent every pitch of Friday's game at Wiregrass Ranch pacing and prodding, chiding and cheering. No sense messing with a modus operandi that has produced two state titles, seven final four berths and ...
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Fri. Feb. 22, 2013 at 10:42 p.m. | Joey Knight
TAMPA — Jenna Brownell’s eighth-inning single with two outs gave defending state champion Chamberlain a wild 9-8 win Friday over Strawberry Crest. “I wanted to be the one who finished it,” Brownell said. She came through with a smash to leftfield that just eluded the diving effort of Maddie Turner. ...
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Fri. Feb. 15, 2013 at 11:42 p.m. | Darek Sharp
Roughly two dozen relatives, teammates, coaches and administrators convened in a Chamberlain High conference room Wednesday morning to recognize a fourth-generation Rattler and first-generation Ivy Leaguer. Chiefs seniors Amber Fullwood and Lindsey Hagberg, both vital in their team's Class 7A state title run last spring, signed with Florida A&M and ...
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Wed. Nov. 14, 2012 at 12:06 p.m. | Joey Knight