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Mitchell's Emotion Carries Knights

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

TRINITY - Leah Mitchell sat in the padded seats in the Mitchell gymnasium Wednesday night, devouring a cup of ice.

As she mentioned the soreness of her throat from screaming, the look on her face was a sure-fire sign that she was willing to accept the discomfort for what she and her teammates accomplished.

Minutes before her respite on the sideline, the River Ridge junior middle hitter treated the Mitchell defense like that cup of ice she held in her hands.

River Ridge (11-0 entering today's game against Orlando Bishop Moore) collected a 25-21, 22-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11 victory against Mitchell.

"They were playing great defense on us and digging up a lot of balls," River Ridge coach Heidi Castelamare said. "We couldn't put the ball where they weren't, but we did come alive, and Leah has a lot of passion. She plays with her heart on her shoulder. You can tell every point what's going through her head."

It likely was that emotion and the Game 4 that Leah Mitchell had that contributed to her sore throat. The first three points of that game came on kills by the junior.

After the Royal Knights dropped Games 2 and 3, it was a welcome sight for the squad. Leah Mitchell ended Game 4 with seven kills and had 18 on the night, a team-high.

"We definitely played like a team," Mitchell said. "When we got down, we got right back up. It was amazing. It was so intense."

Alex Laton collected 15 kills, and Irene Townsend had seven, with Sarah Junot and Gabriella Gonzalez chipping in four each. Mitchell and Rose Gilmartin also contributed seven blocks apiece.

"Honestly, I was just really pumped to beat them," Mitchell said, laughing. "I wanted to beat them so bad. I was not going to lose to Mitchell, our rival."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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