TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

East Bay Clinches Top Seed

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: April 1, 2009

GIBSONTON - East Bay sophomore catcher Sierra Rock had been in this situation before.

Weeks ago, against district rival Plant City, Rock had the game-winning RBI to give her Indians a needed win.

Rock delivered again Tuesday with a three-run double in the fifth inning to propel the East Bay softball team to a 3-0 win over Plant City in a Class 6A-District 8 game.

The Indians (12-8, 10-2) clinched the top seed in the district tournament.

"I went into a slap and I saw the outfielder go to catch it and the ball fell out of her glove," Rock said. "That was very important to get at least two runs."

Plant City (17-4, 8-3) and East Bay entered the game with two district losses apiece.

"They played us a lot better than the last time we played them," said East Bay coach Glenn Rodriguez, whose team is the No. 1 seed for the first time in five years.

Junior Kayla Cox (9-6) struck out seven and allowed four hits for the win. Plant City senior Megan Still (9-3) allowed four hits and struck out two in five innings.

Sugar's 5 RBIs Pace Bulls' Win

VALRICO - Senior Ryan Sugar drove in five runs, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs, as the Bloomingdale baseball team defeated King 7-3.

Sugar singled in the first inning and scored on a hit by Jacob Crochunis.

The Bulls (10-5) took a 3-0 advantage in the third when Sugar's double to center scored Travis Ragghianti and Richie Martin, but Sugar was thrown out at second after making too big of a turn.

However, it was Sugar's third at-bat that put the game away. After a run-scoring single in the fourth from Ragghianti, Sugar belted a three-run homer to center.

Frank Ambrosino (3-0) turned in a quality five-inning start for the Bulls. He allowed no runs and only three hits while striking out five. The senior right-hander also made the defensive play of the game, bare-handing a bunt to the third-base side and rifling the ball to first while falling backward for an out in the fourth inning.

The Lions (4-10) struggled early on offense but were helped in the sixth by two errors and two walks, followed by Karlton Knapp's two-run double.

Jarrett Guthrie

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT