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Softball Notebook: Indians' Cox Overcomes Pain

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: April 2, 2009

East Bay junior pitcher Kayla Cox put on quite a show last weekend.

In a 13-inning, 1-0 loss to Brandon in the first round of the annual Jon Sinclair Memorial Spring Fling tournament, the 5-foot-10 N.C. State commit struck out 31 batters and allowed three hits.

What's more impressive is she pitched some of the game with a bloody finger on her throwing hand.

"I just work as hard as I can because I feel we have a team that can go all the way this year," she said. "I give my all every game, and I pitch my heart out. I don't care if my finger is bleeding, which it usually does."

And fighting through pain isn't new to Cox this season.

"I've been sick this whole season and I didn't even know," she said. "I had the flu, pneumonia, bronchitis and I was in the hospital two weeks ago. I was absolutely sick, but I'm not going to give up on my team or my coach."

"She came out of the hospital and the next night she beat Durant," East Bay coach Glenn Rodriguez said.

Despite missing two games due to illness, Cox is 9-6 with a 0.80 ERA and is second in the state with 207 strikeouts. She has faced 444 batters, allowing 52 hits, walking 14 and allowing 13 earned runs. She has had 12 games with double-digit strikeouts.

In a 2-0, 12-inning loss to Bloomingdale earlier this season, Cox struck out 21 batters, also while pitching with a bleeding finger.

"There was blood all over her jersey," Rodriguez said.

"On the mound, I just go out there and usually pray," Cox said. "I put my softball into God, put it in His hands and try my best."

With East Bay clinching the top seed in the Class 6A-District 8 tournament with a 3-0 win over Plant City on Tuesday, Rodriguez is hoping Cox can lead the Indians (12-8, 10-2) to their first district title in six years.

DURANT FUNDRAISER: The Durant softball team hosted a fundraiser Wednesday to spread breast cancer awareness. "DHS Softball Ks Out Breast Cancer" was created to support a player's mother's battle with breast cancer. All proceeds will be donated to The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life organization.

KISSIMMEE KLASSIC: Several Hillsborough County softball teams and Countryside from Pinellas County will participate in the 17th annual Kissimmee Klassic this weekend in Kissimmee. Chamberlain, Countryside and Newsome will compete in the Blue Division, while Plant, Gaither and Riverview will be in the Gold Division.

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