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Eau Gallie ousts Riverview

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Riverview's Katie Gwinn makes the catch at homeplate as Eau Gallie's Alex Powers slides into home.

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A Tribune staff report

Published: May 6, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Riverview's thrilling ride through the postseason came to an end at the hands of a powerful Melbourne Eau Gallie offense Tuesday night.

Senior pitcher Lexi Carroll had four of Eau Gallie's 16 hits as the Commodores rolled to an 11-3 victory in the Class 6A-Region 2 softball final.

Carroll and Alex Powers hit the 26th and 27th homers of the season for the Commodores (24-2), who scored seven runs in the top of the fourth to take a 9-3 lead.

"We knew they could hit from the top of the order to the bottom," Riverview coach Angela Slater said. "It's not like you can pull a rabbit out of a hat. You've got what you've got. We knew we had to play tremendous defense and they did a great job of being patient, hitting it where it was pitched. We made a few mistakes and that let them smell blood."

Carroll and Powers hit solo homers to put Eau Gallie up 2-0, but Riverview (18-11) scored three in the third to take the lead. Brianna Bell hit a two-run double and Bianka Bell followed with an RBI single.

"We got ourselves out of a few jams and kept it close," Slater said. "I think when we scored, all we did was tick them off."

The Commodores responded by sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring seven times in the fourth. Riverview contributed by committing three errors. Sheree Baxter had an RBI double for the only extra-base hit in the inning.

Mark Pukalo

5A-2: Bulls falter

AUBURNDALE - Kenshyra Jackson's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Auburndale a 5-3 win against Bloomingdale.

Bloomingdale had broken a tie at 2 in the top of the eighth. The Bulls loaded the bases with one out when Jordan Alexander reached on an error, Leah Pemberton walked and Kaylen Castellanos bunted for a hit. Alexander scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, but Auburndale turned a double play to end the inning.

Alexander opened the scoring in the first, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead. Bloomingdale had only four hits in the game, but six errors by Auburndale (23-4) helped keep the Bulls in the contest.

Bloomingdale (22-9) was led by the pitching of Kaylyn Camacho, who went eight innings, giving up seven hits and striking out 11. Auburndale's Taylor Cochean (18-4) went eight innings, allowing four hits and striking out 12.

Pemberton and Hannah Hensley also got hits for the Bulls.

Blake Hasenzahl

5A-3: Plant loses

VENICE - It was a staggering case of deja vu for Plant.

Last year, the Panthers were locked into a pitchers' duel with Venice in the Class 5A region championship until an RBI single slipped past the shortstop in the bottom the sixth inning, giving the host Indians the victory.

On Tuesday, with runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh, Venice senior pitcher Stephanie Sullivan singled past the shortstop to score Mel Dembinski and defeat Plant 1-0.

"It was eerily alike," Plant coach Melissa Sigmon said, shaking her head.

Venice advances to the Class 5A state semifinals next week at Plant City Stadium.

Sullivan tossed a one-hitter and struck out nine batters. She kept the Panthers (22-7) off-balance with a variety of pitches.

"We talked about staying off the riseball," Sigmon said. "If you can't score, you can't win."

"All of our batters were chasing that riseball," said Plant junior shortstop Sarah Bowling, who had her team's only hit. "There was something about it."

Plant senior Kayla Suskauer struck out 10 and allowed three hits.

Nick Williams

1A-3: Cambridge falls

ST. PETERSBURG - Canterbury advanced to the state final four with a win over Cambridge Christian. The Crusaders will make their second consecutive state appearance when they travel to Plant City. Last year was the first time the St. Petersburg school had made it to the state tournament.

Canterbury took a 2-0 lead in the third inning of Tuesday's region final, but Lindsey Hagberg cut it in half with a home run to right field. The shot was the first hit off Krissy Longstreet, who had retired nine straight batters. The sophomore right hander struck out seven.

Canterbury broke open the tight game with a six-run fourth. The Crusaders used two hits, two walks, an error, a hit batter and senior Chelsea Weiland's grand slam to put the game out of reach. It was Weiland's first home run.

Canterbury added three more runs in the sixth to end the game early on the mercy rule. Cambridge Christian hurt its cause with six errors.

Cambridge Christian was hoping for a shot at its fourth state title. The Lancers last won it all in 2005.

"We played well," Canterbury coach Jody Moore said. "Our kids got on base or at least put the ball in play quite a bit."

Mike Moore

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