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First Win A Positive Step For Sunlake

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By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - In Sunlake's first five games, the Seahawks were outscored 66-13.

To put that in perspective, Mitchell scored 13 or more runs in each of its first two games, while Pasco scored 13 or more runs twice in four games.

It was the fifth game that was the sweetest for the Seahawks. The squad collected a 9-1 victory against Wesley Chapel, earning the program's first victory.

"These girls are too good a group. They're not going to give up," Sunlake coach Johnny Dawkins said. "I'm proud of the way they play.

"It gives us a lot of hope and a lot of positive direction. I tell the girls every day that I believe in them, they've got to believe in themselves and they've got to believe I what we're doing and stay positive with it. Have positive thoughts and positive things are going to happen."

Friday night, Sunlake jumped on top of Gulf with a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately for the group of youngsters, that advantage was short-lived, as Gulf (5-4) took an 8-3 victory. The victory didn't cloud Bucs coach Rick Hohenthaner's vision. He was impressed by what he saw in Sunlake (1-6).

"They're not a bad team for a first-year team," Hohenthaner said. "They've got some talent and Coach Dawkins has done a great job getting them prepared to play and I'm sure they were on a high from winning Thursday night's game. Coming in tonight they had a little bravado they may not have had had they lost."

The starting nine for Sunlake comprises five freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors. Those two juniors and captains - catcher Samantha Dittman and infielder Karra Fischer - have been charged with providing on-the-field leadership and tutelage to the young group.

The constant fundamental work in practice in addition to the leadership helped Thursday night.

"It was very exciting," Dittman said. "The whole team played together. It wasn't just individuals, it was the whole team together. We had really nice hits and when we got bases loaded, the batters did what they were supposed to do. They put the bat on the ball and that's how we won."

Opening the season against two of Pasco County's powerhouses in Pasco and Land O' Lakes has not deterred the Seahawks and the win against Wesley Chapel gave the squad a glimpse of what can happen if they play together and solid.

"It happened Thursday night," Dawkins said. "We got 14 hits and just hit the devil out of the ball. We made some good plays and the pitcher didn't walk anyone. We've gone from walking 13 hitters a game and hitting two to two or three walks a game and that's the difference.

"We throw strikes, play good, fundamental defense and swing the bat. That's softball. That's it in a nutshell."

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