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District softball roundup: Seventh-inning rally lifts Osceola

 
Osceola’s Hannah Ciatto celebrates after scoring the winning run during the seventh inning, as the Warriors topped Mitchell 6-5.
Osceola’s Hannah Ciatto celebrates after scoring the winning run during the seventh inning, as the Warriors topped Mitchell 6-5.
Published April 17, 2015

SEMINOLE — As Lindsey Hall stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and two on, the final between Osceola and Mitchell was assured of being a thriller regardless of who won. Hall made sure the celebration was on Osceola's side.

Her base hit up the middle brought across the winning runs and finished a three-run rally that gave Osceola (15-9) a 6-5 win and the Class 6A-10 district title on Thursday night.

The same teams battled last year for the district, with Mitchell coming out on top. On this night, the Mustangs got out to a strong start, scoring in the second and third innings to go up 4-0. The Warriors responded with a four-hit third inning that brought two across the plate.

Amelia Gamarra's double to left in the fourth made it 5-2. Osceola responded in its half of the frame with another run when a two-out grounder by Kayleice Hooks was misplayed by the third baseman.

After scoreless but tense fifth and sixth innings, pitcher Megan Weisenberg struck out Madison Staniloiu to end the top of the seventh.

Weisenberg led off the bottom of the final inning with a base hit between first and second. Ashley Autuori set down Maria Kappos on a strikeout, but Mackenzie Tolrud's hit over the shortstop put a runner in scoring position. Becca Bunday's grounder to third led to Weisenberg being tagged for the second out.

Autuori put Hannah Ciatto behind 0 and 2, but Ciatto fought back with a hit to right that brought the Warriors within one run of tying the score. That set the stage for Hall and her game-winning hit.

A beaming Jerry King described his feeling as "unbelievable" as he watched his squad pose for pictures at home plate with the trophy.

"They do their job to the last out every time," he said. "As long as we have an out, we're in it."

Class 7A-9

Countryside 4, Seminole 0: It wasn't pretty, kind of like Emily Hollenbeck's awkward slide into home plate in the seventh inning. But Countryside rode one big inning and a lot of teamwork to defeat Seminole.

"It was awful," the junior said of her landing following Makenzie Griffin's second hit of the game. "I tried to do a hook slide but I don't know what happened."

The results were everything, though, as Hollenbeck scored the Cougars' last run and kicked off a crucial three-run rally in the fourth inning with a home run to straightaway centerfield.

"Sometimes I get down on myself because I don't do as well as I know I can do," Hollenbeck said. "But Coach (Kaylyn Bayly) told me to take a deep breath and believe in myself. I kept my swing simple and short, and (the ball) just went over (the fence)."

Sophomore Jordan Lewis followed with a clutch two-out double that plated courtesy runner Faith Poelker (catcher Cheyenne Blumberg walked) and Brooke Sharpe (hit by pitch), and Stella Preston made the runs stand up.

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The junior (eight hits, five strikeouts, no walks) battled her way out of several threats. Seminole threatened in four of the last five innings but couldn't push even one across.

"I'm really proud to be on another good team," said Keeley Mayers, Countryside's lone senior making her fourth straight playoff appearance. "It's a different team but we've pulled everyone together. We really support each other."

Class 8A-8

Palm Harbor University 10, Sarasota Riverview 0: The Hurricanes needed to find a way to snap out of their funk after closing out the regular season with losses in four of their past five regular-season games.

The district tournament provided the perfect tonic.

PHU, which went undefeated against district foes and was the top seed, beat St. Petersburg in the semifinals and Sarasota Riverview in the championship game by a combined 25-0.

The win against the Rams exacted revenge for last year's loss in the title game.

Taylor Scott was effective on the mound, tossing a two-hit shutout for the Hurricanes (18-8). Logyn Lilley went 2-for-2 to raise her batting average to .782.

Class 5A-10

Boca Ciega 9, Bayshore 3: Caylie VanAuken struck out 12, and the Bogie offense capitalized on five Bradenton Bayshore errors as the visiting Pirates upset the top-seeded Bruins. Boca Ciega (7-10), the third seed, lost to Bayshore 12-0 and 2-0 during the regular season.

"I told my team we can just get better and better and when playoffs come, we're ready," said Boca Ciega first-year coach Robin Little, who was doused by her team in celebration after the victory.

The Bruins (11-8), who advanced to the state final four last season, are missing star pitcher Miriam Schmoll (knee).

VanAuken allowed two earned runs and five hits. She walked only one batter. The Pirates made just one error behind her.

Kryshai Austin went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates, and Morgan Ricky had a pair of hits. VanAuken doubled and scored twice.

The Pirates used a four-run fourth inning to pull away. The first four batters in the inning — Sam Ross, VanAuken, Austin and Alexis Blasingame — scored.

Class 5A-8

River Ridge 10, Tarpon Springs 3: At one point a 7-7 team, and entering the district tournament as the fourth seed, River Ridge fell behind 2-0 before rallying past No. 2 seed Tarpon Springs at Gulf. It was River Ridge's fifth consecutive district title.

Anessa Holes tossed a complete game for a second straight night, and salted things away with a grand slam off Tarpon ace Lindsey White in the sixth.

Tarpon (15-8) jumped ahead 2-0 when White sent a 3-1 pitch over the deep fences. What turned out to be a big moment followed, as Emily Merino singled and Jenna Wojnar doubled with one out. But Holes got out of that jam, and limited the Spongers to one run in the fifth, when Tarpon loaded the bases with one out but settled for a lone run on Merino's long sac fly. White reached base three times and Merino and Wojnar both had two hits.

Class 3A-9

Calvary Christian 11, Indian Rocks Christian 1: The Warriors (11-5) broke open a close game by scoring two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to win their second straight district title. Olivia Silver, a senior transfer from Dunedin who is going to Palm Beach Atlantic, drove in the final run in the fifth inning.

Calvary's Gaby Scott and Gabby Fresh each went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and an RBI. Starter Rachel Hunt allowed one hit and recorded six strikeouts.

Class 3A-10

Northside Christian 5, Admiral Farragut 2: Host Northside Christian scored a run in the first inning and never gave up the lead. Jocelyn Alonso led off the game with a walk, stole second, third and home to make it 1-0. In the third inning, Hailey Hennessey had a two-out, two-run double to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead. The Blue Jackets cut it to one run in the bottom of the third when Corynn Miner tripled in Alicia Fudge, then scored from third on a throwing error. Hennessey was 2-for-3 with a triple and a double.

Class 2A-8

Canterbury 15, Hernando Christian 0 (four innings): Host Canterbury (24-3) scored eight runs in the first inning, which included a home run by Danielle Romanello. Canterbury pitcher Kama Woodall did not allow a hit and added a double. Cailyn Cothrun also doubled and Romanello had a triple. In its past four games, Canterbury has outscored opponents 44-0.

Correspondents Chuck Frye and Darek Sharp contributed to this report, which uses information from the Herald.