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Streaks' Bats Attack Dragons

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Sebring’s Sami Lower touches second base to force out Lake Placid’s Ashley Paplow (14) during Thursday’s game.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: February 9, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Lee Tolar shook his head in awe of his girls' performance, and summed up his Sebring softball team in a nutshell.

"We're only going to get better," the Blue Streak skipper said.

Sebring, who methodically dismantled a gutsy Lake Placid squad in a 15-1 mercy-rule victory on Thursday, is already playing at a tournament level, and they're doing it without three key members of the team (Priscilla Adams, Chelsea Davis and Hannah Shoop).

"It's nice to see that we're not getting off to a slow start," Tolar said. "These girls were just ready to play tonight. They're tired of practice and wanted to play.

"We're hitting well, playing solid defense. Everything is on course, but we've got a good test in Frostproof coming up. We're just ready to go."

The three missing players are still on the basketball court as part of the Blue Streak girls basketball team (which stunned Haines City 55-48 on Thursday) and won't be joining the softball squad until their playoff run is over.

Heather McIntyre went 4 for 4 and scored two runs, and every Sebring starter recorded a hit against the Green Dragons.

Melissa Luke, who relieved starter Niki Helms in the third, looked solid in the circle and shared why this Blue Streak team is so special.

"We're like sisters and love being together," Luke said. "We've been playing together for so long, it just feels natural out there. We don't even think about it."

That togetherness showed on the field, as the Sebring defense gulped up every Lake Placid ball they could, allowing just a single and a pair of walks to Lake Placid, who is still trying to find the right mixture.

"We're still trying to fit girls in the right positions," said LP head coach Marilyn Jones. "Sebring is a great program and if you schedule them as your first game, you must be insane.

"All joking aside, we've got girls playing out of position and we just didn't do the little things tonight like throwing the ball back to the pitcher. But we're going to have a very spirited practice [on Friday]."

Sebring pounced on the Green Dragons early, getting three runs in the first inning off Helms' RBI groundout and a pair of throwing errors by LP that allowed Sami Lower and freshman Amanda Grimaldo to score, and the Streaks never looked back.

Grimaldo received some high praise from her coach and teammates, as she's woven herself into the fabric of the Streaks in such a short amount of time.

"Amanda played awesome tonight," Tolar said. "She played great defense and made a throw to first from her knees that nearly got the girl out. I just sat and smiled."

Luke wasn't shocked at all when asked about the freshman's play.

"She's got a great mind for the game," Luke said. "She can play almost any position and is just a natural athlete.

"She definitely doesn't play like a freshman."

Grimaldo had little time to prepare for the upcoming season, as she traded a soccer ball for a softball glove almost overnight.

"I only had one practice after soccer to get ready for this game," Grimaldo said. "I think I've been doing pretty good. I still need to keep working my hardest to keep my spot."

Sebring, which was scheduled to face Booker on Friday, will play Class 3A powerhouse Frostproof on Feb. 14. Their next home game is on Feb. 18 against Lake Placid.

The Green Dragons, meanwhile, host Clewiston at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

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