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Softball: Mitchell goes 12 innings to earn victory against Gulf

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2010

NEW PORT RICHEY - When the public address announcer informs the crowd there may be breakfast served in the concession stand, you know it's been a long night.

Even after throwing 12 complete innings Tuesday night at Gulf, Mitchell ace Cortney Radke smirked and admitted, "Twelve innings is nothing."

Radke's 20 strikeouts and timely hitting by her Mustangs teammates gave the defending Sunshine Athletic Conference champs a 1-0 victory against Gulf, ending a two hour, 23 minute contest.

"We were lucky to get out of here tonight with that win," Mitchell coach Scott Bisbe said. "Like I said, it's just great to have Cortney Radke because you know, you get a run, you feel pretty comfortable."

That lone run came at the top of the 12th inning, following consecutive hits by Lydia Kinney, Jada Clemons and Heather Muccino. That loaded the bases for Radke, who sent a deep drive into right field, allowing Kinney to tag up and score from third.

The way the game began was a 180-degree difference in how it shaped up. In the top of the first inning, Mitchell (8-0) had the perfect opportunity to take a commanding lead. Hits by Miranda Moye and Muccino bookended a walk by Radke.

That effort was for not.

Buccaneers pitcher Rachel Enerson induced a ground ball from the next batter, a runner was caught attempting to steal second base and Enerson collected a put out on the ensuing batter to get out of the jam.

"To get out of that with nothing, I told the girls (after that), that's the game," Gulf coach Rick Hohenthaner said. "We're going to win the game. That was the ballgame right there."

That premonition nearly came true as Gulf (5-4) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. Radke (6-0) slammed the door, getting the batter to swing for the inning's final out.

"She was on," Mitchell catcher Sara Brock said. "Cortney's pretty much always on her game. There's not even an 'unless.' Cortney's always on."

Following Tuesday night's marathon, Mitchell will make up last Friday's rained out contest when they host Pasco. When the two teams faced each other two weeks ago, Radke struck out 18 batters and gave up just one hit, while Pirates ace Courtney Brandt K'd 13 batters and surrendered one hit as well.

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