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Canterbury falls in state softball title game

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 13, 2009

PLANT CITY - Jacksonville Eagle's View Academy's pitching was too difficult to hit, its defense too solid to penetrate and its hitting too powerful to contain.

All three elements led to the defending Class 1A state softball champion's 7-2 victory against St. Petersburg Canterbury School in the state tournament 1A title game at Plant City Stadium on Wednesday.

Offensively, the Warriors (22-7) recorded 12 hits and all but two players in the batting order put the ball in play. Defensively, Eagle's View caught four Canterbury runners stealing.

"We came in expecting them to hit," Canterbury coach Jody Moore said. "Their hits fell in there today. (Defensively), they did a good job of blocking the bases."

Eagle's View senior ace Sara Ketchie (7-3) kept the Lady Crusaders off balance with a variety of pitches, scattering six hits with six strikeouts and three walks en route to the win.

"She never threw the same pitch twice," said Canterbury senior catcher Macey Hall, who had a hit in the loss.

Canterbury left seven batters on base.

The Lady Crusaders (22-7) scored on an error in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but it was short lived. Eagle's View scored two runs in the second and in the top of the third, Canterbury sophomore pitcher Krissy Longstreet gave up two runs on four hits to give the Warriors a 4-0 edge. Entering the fourth inning, Moore decided to replace Longstreet with freshman Emily Winesett, who allowed six hits and three runs in four innings.

"Until the last inning, we were holding them behind Emily," Moore said.

Although the team didn't walk away state champions, Canterbury still had reason to celebrate. In just four years of existence, The Lady Crusaders became the first team in school history to bring home a state trophy. It's an accomplishment the players and Moore said they will always cherish.

"I'm proud of this program," Hall said. "We are the team that works the hardest and we are the ones who deserved the first (state trophy)."

"This (trophy) is about the 16 girls on this team who did what I asked them to," Moore said. "This was the experience of a lifetime. It makes me proud to show that hard work pays off."

Eagle's View 022 100 2 – 7 12 3

Canterbury 100 010 0 – 2 6 3

W – Ketchie (7-3). L – Longstreet (10-4). 2B – Brown, Silcox, Cribb (E). R – E 22-7, C 22-7.

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

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