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Hartshorn Perfect To Propel Chiefs

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A Tribune staff report

Published: April 18, 2008

TAMPA - It didn't dawn on Chamberlain junior pitcher Alex Hartshorn until after her team's 13-0 win in five innings against Jefferson in the Class 5A-District 10 softball semifinals Thursday night.

"I think that was my first perfect game ever," she said.

Hartshorn (13-4) struck out nine of 15 batters en route to her first perfect game.

The top-seeded Chiefs (21-4) will face second-seeded Plant - which defeated Hillsborough in the other semifinal 10-0 - in the championship game tonight at 7:30.

"I was working my corners," Hartshorn said. "Senior catcher Mary Kate Smith was working out the calls."

Gina Kafalas led Chamberlain with two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored, while junior shortstop Samantha Holle had one hit, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Kayla Suskauer (9-3) struck out 10 in a one-hit shutout, leading the Panthers (21-3) past Hillsborough. North Carolina State-bound infielder Hannah Ojeda had three hits, three runs and an RBI.

Plant defeated Chamberlain 2-1 during the regular season. The loss was Chamberlain's first to a Hillsborough County team in more than two years.

"We're ready for Chamberlain, and its going to be an exciting game," Plant coach Melissa Sigmon said. "Against a team like Chamberlain, it's who makes the least mistakes and who capitalizes. You can't give a team like Chamberlain extra outs."
Nick Williams
Class 4A-District 8

BROOKSVILLE - Colena Lazar is Pasco's vocal leader, but performances like hers Thursday night speak for themselves.

Lazar (17-2) struck out 15 batters and hit a 210-foot solo home run to center field as the No. 1-seeded Pirates (23-2) beat Springstead 2-0 to advance to the Class 4A-District 8 final tonight. They will face third-seeded Zephyrhills.

The Bulldogs (20-6) beat No. 2 Nature Coast (19-6) 9-3 in the early semifinal game at Tom Varn Park.

"I think I did good," Lazar said. "I just came out to the game strong. I just had a feeling my bat was going to be on tonight.

"I wasn't sure about my pitching, but when I was warming up it felt a lot stronger than it did the other night, but I had a lot of confidence."

Lazar's dominating night started early, as she sent the first seven Springstead batters down on strikes.

The Eagles' first hit came in the fifth inning, and they only had two more the rest of the game.

Springstead pitcher Becky Powell kept the Pirates' bats unusually quiet, allowing four hits.

Colesa Lazar accounted for the other Pasco run. She hit a stand-up double in the third inning and was driven home by a Megan Newsome single.

Ashley Anderton and Ashley Snyder each had two hits to lead the Bulldogs to their fifth straight district tournament title game appearance.

Lauren Pasquale (6-3) and Kaitlyn Hutchinson combined for the win. Pasquale pitched 6

1/3

innings had five strikeouts. Hutchinson recorded the final two outs on strikeouts.

Cristina Ledra

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