Basil Spyridakos, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
SEMINOLE — East Lake coach Mike Estes doesn't look at the lofty rankings and doesn't think much of them either. The Eagles are the No. 3 team in ESPN's Fab 50, but he feels there's much more to carry out before his team can celebrate.
"There isn't much talk around practice about those rankings," Estes said. "Being ranked third in the nation is great, but it doesn't mean a whole lot and it doesn't mean anything if we don't accomplish everything we're trying to do."
Estes is doing an incredible job keeping his teamed focused. East Lake came out determined and defeated a tough Osceola (10-4) team 5-0 Wednesday.
The Eagles utilized their speed and ability to lay down bunts in the second inning. Erin Rawls hit a single, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Weaver.
Rawls reached third after a throwing error and Makayla Powers laid down a perfect bunt, allowing Rawls to sneak home while the play was being forced at first base.
"We were not picking our pitch to hit, so I told them we're going to put a couple of balls down and get some confidence," Estes said.
Coming off an illness, Alyssa Bache did what she always does — namely shut down the opposition.
Bache nearly had another perfect game, which would have been her fifth of the season. It was spoiled by Haley Brown, who drove a single off Bache's leg in the fourth inning.
"I use my curveball a lot but sometimes it goes over or up, which is an advantage," said Bache, who finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed only the one hit. "I felt good coming into this game."
East Lake (18-0) began the third inning with three consecutive singles, loading the bases for Emma Hvozdovich, who cracked a double to right-centerfield and allowed two more to cross the plate.
The Eagles finished with three runs in the fourth and one more in the sixth.