By Nathan Cowan, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — On most occasions to start softball games, the umpires meet with each team's captains to discuss the rules.
Tuesday, Northside Christian coach John Anderson sent his entire team out to the meeting to show them that games aren't won by one or two players.
The move paid off as seventh hitter Kaylyn Creel had two hits and drove in the tying and winning runs to propel the Mustangs to a 4-3 victory at St. Petersburg Catholic.
The game was called after six innings due to darkness.
"I always preach to the team that it isn't about one player," Anderson said. "They practice six days a week for three hours and do everything we ask."
The Barons went up 2-0 in the second inning with a little help from the Mustangs.
After a strikeout, Anna Mixa singled and went to second on a passed ball. Kelsey Troyer singled in Mixa and moved up to second on the throw home. After a sacrifice, Katy Shankle popped up, but the ball was dropped, and that allowed Troyer to score.
The Mustangs got a run back in the third. With two outs, Jessica Anderson and Katheryn Brown walked. Lauren Tozour singled to drive in Anderson.
The Barons went up 3-1 in the bottom of the inning, with Mixa hitting a triple and scoring on a single by Mackenzie Overton.
"Last year, (pitcher) Jessica (Anderson) would have fallen apart in that situation," John Anderson said of his daughter, who struck out 11. "She showed real maturity (Tuesday)."
The Mustangs broke through against Kelsey Humphrey in the fifth. Anderson walked, Brown singled, and Lauren Tozour walked to load the bases with one out. Then Creel hit a two-run single.
"The bottom of the lineup came through for us," Anderson said. "We're lucky to have the players we do."
Creel led the Mustangs with two hits and two RBIs.
Mixa led the Barons with a triple, a single and two runs scored. Humphrey pitched a complete game, striking out six while giving up four hits.