Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
LAND O'LAKES — Sunlake coach Jami Finan was a little worried about Wiregrass Ranch on Tuesday night.
Not because the Seahawks have faced the Bulls or even scouted them. But because in the who has beaten whom game, Sunlake was defeated by Pasco in the first game of the season and Wiregrass Ranch cruised by Mitchell, which beat Pasco.
End result? The Seahawks calmed their coach's nerves as they racked up eight hits and took advantage of several errors in an 8-2 victory in a Class 4A, District 8 contest.
"This game was a big deal because according to their schedule they beat Mitchell, who beat Pasco and they beat us," Fanin said. "It was kind of nerve-wracking going into this game for us. It just goes to show whoever shows up to play, anybody can win. This is our second district win, so we're doing good."
Sunlake (3-1, 2-0) wasted no time in controlling the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a double launched deep to left-centerfield by junior Courtney Durbin (3-for-4, two doubles). The hit scored Alex Rogers from second.
Durbin scored in the inning on a throwing error by Wiregrass pitcher Rachel Heath (two strikeouts).
Down 4-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Wiregrass (3-2, 0-2) mounted a two-out rally and scored two runs off Sunlake's Tyler Riendeau (six strikeouts).
The Seahawks repelled the rally with one of their own, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning to seal Sunlake's second district win of the young season.