TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

SOFTBALL: Pirates Whip Blue Streaks

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: March 15, 2009

BRADENTON - It was a week of catastrophic injuries for the Sebring softball team, and it culminated on Friday when starting pitcher Niki Helms was injured in a 9-1 loss to district rival Braden River.

The Streaks lost Division-I bound senior Sammie Lower for the season on Monday when the East Tennessee State softball signee injured her knee during practice. They were dealt another blow when pitcher Haley Pack took a ball to the ankle mid-week, leaving her hobbling.

But senior Niki Helms appeared to be holding the pieces together on Friday night, until she awkwardly rounded second base on a base hit and was lost for the game with a knee or hamstring injury, according to first-year Sebring coach Joe Sinness.

"It's been one of those weeks," Sinness said. "We're hoping Niki's injury isn't too significant, and after she went down, I give the girls credit, they kept their intensity."

But a hobbling Pack wasn't at full strength and the Pirates took advantage, scoring eight runs in the fourth en route to the victory.

The Streaks (4-2 in 4A-D10), who host DeSoto at 7 p.m. Monday, scored their lone run on a Wendy Negrin RBI single that scored Dino Lower.

SOFTBALL: Moore Haven 13, Lake Placid 0

LAKE PLACID - The Green Dragon softball team allowed eight runs in the seventh inning on Friday to drop a 13-0 Class 3A-District 10 game to Moore Haven.

"We were doing fine and were able to get runners aboard a few times, but we couldn't put that next hit together," said LP coach Marilyn Jones. "We were down 5-0 going into the seventh and just had a horrible inning. We need to work on hitting, but we also need to know where and when to throw the ball."

The Dragons are off for a week before returning to action on March 24 at McKeel.

BASEBALL: McKeel Academy 13, Lake Placid 1

LAKE PLACID - The Lake Placid baseball team ran into a buzz saw in Friday night's Class 3A-District 10 game against McKeel Academy.

The Wildcats jumped on top early and cruised past the Green Dragons by a 13-1 score at Roger Scarborough Field.

Lake Placid's lone run was a solo homer by David Samperi in the fifth inning.

The loss dropped the Green Dragons to 3-7, 1-4.

"McKeel swung the bats well," said Lake Placid veteran coach Dan Coomes. "They scored nine runs the first two innings and we never recovered.

"We came out flat after losing a tough one-run game to Mulberry on Thursday night, but we have to regroup, pick up the pieces and start playing better baseball."

Lake Placid is back on the diamond on Tuesday with a district home game against Frostproof.

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT