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District softball: Hernando beats Nature Coast 4-0 to win Class 5A, District 7 title

 
Published April 28, 2017

BROOKSVILLE — While Hernando winning the Class 5A, District 7 championship would have been considered a major upset before the season, the Leopards' victory Thursday night did not surprise anyone who had seen them play.

Behind the stellar arm of Ali Shenefield, Hernando shut out Nature Coast 4-0 on the Sharks' home field to earn the program's 12th district title.

Shenefield "was the X factor," coach Kevin Bittinger said. "Without a word, she said, 'Hop on my back, girls. We got this.' "

The Leopards (19-8) knew that scratching out runs against Nature Coast ace Abbey Primavera was going to be difficult after battling the senior twice this season already. Hernando lost an extra-inning thriller 7-4 early in the year before edging the Sharks 3-2 a month later. According to Bittinger, those games built confidence in his young lineup.

"If you ask our girls, yes, they believe they are the better team," he said. "Top to bottom, we knew we could come in here and win the district tournament."

Hernando struck first in the third inning on a clutch two-out, two-run double by Kaylee Frascatore. The shortstop hit a ball into the gap to score Josey Sims and Taliyah Dowdell.

With Shenefield dealing as well as she has all season, those two runs would be plenty. The sophomore nailed down her 10th shutout of the campaign, surrendering only four hits. It was also her third straight shutout, all in the district tournament.

"It was exciting," she said. "I stayed away from where their bats were, and I was just so happy that my coaches had the trust in me to do it."

Frascatore (2-for-4, four RBIs) cemented the win over Nature Coast (19-8) when she hit her second homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth to deep centerfield.

Hernando will move on to the Class 5A region quarterfinals, hosting Bishop Moore on Wednesday. The Sharks will travel to Port Orange to face Atlantic that same day.