Steve Lee, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
ZEPHYRHILLS — A new trend began Tuesday night for Wiregrass Ranch against Zephyrhills.
The Bulls defeated the host Bulldogs 9-4 in a Class 4A, District 8 game. Zephyrhills, which had won six of the seven previous meetings, made seven errors. Plus, every Wiregrass Ranch batter had at least one hit.
"From out first batter to our ninth batter, if someone's having a bad game somebody else will pick it up," first-year Bulls coach Vanessa LeFan said.
Wiregrass Ranch (7-3, 3-3 in 4A-8) led 2-1 and broke open a close game with seven runs in the top of the fourth. The Bulls had seven hits and capitalized on three errors in that inning, highlighted by Kasey Mowery's two-run double and RBI singles by Ashley Bradford, Taylor Mello and Jordan Pierseall.
Wiregrass Ranch starter Rachael Heath scattered eight hits and struck out 10 to improve to 3-3.
"Rachael did phenomenal," LeFan said. "She hit her spots tonight."
Zephyrhills (4-5, 0-4) put together a rally of its own in the bottom of the fourth. Karisten Deem hit a run-scoring double and Tori Jordan doubled to keep the inning alive. Emily Keidaish contributed an RBI groundout.
Mary Sorgenfrei led off the game with a single and scored on Pierseall's sacrifice fly to give Wiregrass Ranch a 1-0 lead in the first. The Bulls added a run in the second on an infield error.
Zephyrhills got a run back in the bottom of the second with Briana Blanyar, who singled, racing home on Marissa Gochenour's strikeout. Pierseall, the catcher, dropped strike three and threw to first baseman Mowery for the out, but Blanyar slid under the tag on the return throw home.