EAST LAKE — For five innings Thursday, the Palm Harbor University softball team watched helplessly as one hard hit ball after another was gobbled up by East Lake's defense.
Trailing 2-0, the Hurricanes seemed to be running out of time, that is, until things went awry for East Lake in the sixth.
Aided by two East Lake errors and Jackie Katchuk's first home run of the season, PHU came from behind to win 7-5 over its neighborhood rival and remain undefeated in district play (5A-9).
"We hit hard balls at them all night and they were making plays," PHU coach Chuck Poetter said. "I kept telling our girls, 'Keep hitting the ball hard, they're not all going to go at somebody every time.' "
Sarah Broeseker and Lindsey Fenlon led off the sixth for PHU (12-1) with infield singles. An East Lake throwing error trying to get the force at second allowed Broeseker to cross home plate for the Hurricanes' first run.
Then, Katchuk unleashed a mammoth three-run home run to left centerfield that gave PHU a 4-2 lead.
"(The pitch) was a little up, and I just got under and was able to lift it out," Katchuk said. "We needed a lift."
Another East Lake error and an infield single by Emily Hazzard put two more runners in scoring position for PHU in the sixth.
Down to their last three outs, the Eagles (8-4) scored three in the seventh, but Hayley Davis went down swinging against reliever Courtney O'Connell (2-0) to end the game.
News
