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Shull buckles down to guide River Ridge to victory

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 16, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - It wasn't last season's nine-inning affair, but River Ridge and Pasco did their best to provided fans with enough intrigue during seven innings of play.

The Royal Knights scored early, holding on to collect its 11th victory in 12 games, 3-2, Thursday night at the Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

"You always get nervous," River Ridge coach Ernie Beck said of the close game. "I was just telling a parent, in this conference [Sunshine Athletic Conference], you just can't walk through it. [Mitchell coach Scott] Bisbe was here to support me. Bisbe had the conference in hand [Wednesday night] if he beats Land O' Lakes, but he doesn't beat Land O' Lakes."

Considering the outcome of the bottom of the third for River Ridge (18-4), one would assume the pressure was practically nonexistent.

In that inning, River Ridge's Carla Leyva reached safely on a well-placed bunt between Pasco catcher Megan Newsome and pitcher Colena Lazar. Ana Alberti's sacrifice bunt moved Leyva to second and the next batter, Ashley Garland, was walked.

Four pitches into Amanda Wells' at-bat, Leyva and Garland put pressure on the Pasco defense, executing a double steal. Two pitches later, Garland smacked a double, scoring the two base runners.

Madison Morris' deep rip into the outfield, was dropped, allowing Wells to score. That pushed the Royal Knights advantage to 3-0.

Then came the pressure from the Pirates.

At the top of the fourth inning, Lucy Schneider reached safety after her single to right field. The speedy senior stole second base and advanced to third on a grounder.

Courtney Brandt hit a shot to third, but River Ridge third baseman Jessica Tamburri snatched it up. Tamburri turned to Schneider, holding her at third, but Schneider broke for home on the throw to first. Tamburri got the put out at first for the second out, but Schneider's speed allowed her to cross the plate unscathed. Her score cut into the River Ridge advantage 3-1.

The next batter Pasco (19-6) batter, Newsome, sent a 1-1 pitch over the right centerfield fence, closing the gap, 3-2.

"I wasn't worried because we had been hitting [River Ridge pitcher Lakyn Shull] all night," Pasco coach Shamalene Broner said. "Before that inning when I walked across, I told Colena, 'Don't worry, we're going to get you some runs.'"

She predicted the runs, but didn't count on Shull buckling down.

In the fifth, Shull mowed down the Pasco batters in order. In the sixth, she struck out two of five batters she faced. During that inning, Pasco left a runner, Schneider, who reached on an infield single, at third.

Shull ended the final frame by putting out the first batter on a grounder up the middle and striking out the final two batters - swinging.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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