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Durant Makes It To Final In 6A

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By NICK WILLIAMS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 26, 2008

CLEARWATER - The sound coming from the Countryside softball team's dugout was deafening.

Although she stood calm and confident, on the inside, Durant senior pitcher Sara DeMuth felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"I knew I had to hold them," DeMuth said. "I was shaking, and I had butterflies in my stomach."

After Durant took a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, the Cougars needed their star pitcher to get the three outs to give the team its first region final appearance since 2003. Countryside scored a run and put two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

DeMuth then forced a pop-up to the infield and threw out the final batter at first base as Durant held on to win, 4-2, in nine innings at the Class 6A region semifinals on Friday.

Durant will host Winter Garden West Orange on Tuesday for a chance to go to the state tournament.

"This feels awesome," said DeMuth, who struck out five batters and walked four. "I never thought we'd get this far. I'm on Cloud Nine."

Durant (24-5) scored three runs in the top of the ninth to break a 1-1 tie. DeMuth, who had already struck out three times during the game, hit a single between first and second base to move junior Brandi Regan to third. Junior shortstop Kelsey Horton laid a bunt down the first-base line to bring home Regan, and DeMuth scored on an infielder's error on the next at-bat. That was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Jones to drive in Horton.

Durant used similar tactics to score against Gaither in the region quarterfinals on Tuesday.

"Different team and a different time, but it just happened to work," Durant coach Matt Carter said. "I've got confidence in my players."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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