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Softball: Eagles Soar In Spring Fling Tourney

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Alonso shortstop Danielle Rowe tags out Plant Daniella Morgado Friday during the Spring Fling high school softball tournament at J.C. Handley Park.

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: March 28, 2009

BRANDON - The Brandon and East Bay softball teams had battled for three hours and 13 innings Friday during the Spring Fling tournament at JC Handly Field, but in a matter of seconds, it all came to an end.

With two outs and a runner on second, Brandon sophomore Chelsea Gonzalez blasted a single to center field to score Kirsten Lucas, giving her Eagles (10-6) a 1-0 win over the Indians (11-7) in bottom of the 13th.

"As hard as we've worked all year, that just showed it right there," first-year Brandon coach Jennifer Steadham said. "That was execution."

Brandon sophomore pitcher Kayla Goff (7-4) kept her team alive, pitching a complete game four-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts. In the top of the 13th, East Bay had runners on second and third with two outs when Goff earned her final strikeout of the night to set the stage for the winning run.

East Bay junior pitcher Kayla Cox, arguably the most dominant pitcher in Hillsborough County this season, entered the game as the area's strikeout leader. The N.C. State commitment allowed two hits while striking out 31 batters. East Bay couldn't come up with a clutch hit, leaving 14 batters on base.

Brandon defeated Jefferson 10-0 in five innings in the second round to advance to today's 11 a.m. semifinal against River Ridge.

Ravens Upset Panthers

The theme for this year's Alonso squad is, "Do something crazy."

The Ravens certainly did that with an 8-3 upset of state-ranked Plant (13-3) in the second round.

Alonso (7-9) scored five runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie, and Kaitlyn Shortt earned the save in the bottom of the inning to advance the Ravens into today's semis, where they will meet Bloomingdale.

"The last few games, they have been on fire," Alonso coach Robin Kopp said.

Alonso defeated Durant, 2-1, in the first round.

Bulls Dethrone 2008 Champs

Senior pitcher Kaylyn Camacho struck out nine, while Hannah Hensley and Leah Pemberton hit home runs to lead Bloomingdale past defending tournament champion Riverview, 9-3, in the first round.

In the second round, Hensley continued her strong hitting, helping her Bulls (14-5) with a three-run triple during a 14-0, six-inning romp over Lennard.

Royal Knights Cruise Into Semis

Carla Leyva singled home Sarah Simon in the second inning for the game's only run as River Ridge beat Academy of the Holy Names 1-0 in first-round play. Because Plant City dropped from the tournament, River Ridge (15-3) earned a second-round bye and advanced into the semifinals to meet Brandon.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851

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