Local Sports
Blue Streaks push past Bulldogs
Mark Pinson | Highlands Today
Published: February 23, 2013
SEBRING - Sebring senior Carly Hoffner broke out of a slump in a big way by banging out three hits and driving in three runs to lead the Blue Streaks softball team to a 10-3 rout of DeSoto on Thursday night.Published: February 23, 2013
The impressive victory over the Bulldogs improved Sebring to 4-2 on the season.
"We've been a little sporadic with our hitting this season," said Sebring softball coach Joe Sinness. "We hit in just about every inning tonight and did a good job of swinging at good pitches.
"Carly had been in a little slump, but she broke out with a vengeance the last two games and has been killing the ball."
Sebring took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Kara Faircloth reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third base on a single by Hoffner and scored on a ground ball to make it 1-0.
DeSoto took the lead in the top of the third inning as back-to-back doubles by Destiny Payne and Shelby Cross off Chelsea Bassett plated a run, and another run scored on an error to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
The Blue Streaks answered in the bottom of the inning as Morgan Andrews led off with a double and Tay DaSilva and Faircloth singled to load the bases with no outs.
Hoffner drilled a line drive to left-center field off right-hander Michaela Wallace to drive in all three runners for a 4-2 lead.
Bassett, a hard-throwing junior, settled down and limited the Bulldogs to six hits to go with four strikeouts in a complete game.
Sebring went back on the attack in the bottom of the fourth inning as Amber Hicks led off by reaching on an error, Hannah Lollis put down a bunt single and Tayrn O'Bannon laced a two-run double to left field.
Faircloth reached on an error, Hoffner ripped a single and Bassett smacked a single to center field to plate another pair of runs. Alison Hoffner capped the inning with a two-run single off the pitcher's shoulder to give the Blue Streaks a commanding 10-2 lead.
Bassett cruised through the DeSoto lineup with ease until the top of the seventh inning.
Wallace reached on an error and scored on an RBI single by Victoria Cross, but Bassett bore down to retire the next two hitters to seal the win over the Bulldogs, who saw their record drop to 3-3 on the season.
"It was great to see us score some runs," Sinness said. "We've been scoring most of our runs in one or two innings, but we were aggressive tonight and put the ball in play pretty much every inning. "Chelsea did a good job on the mound and has been solid every time she's pitched this season.
"That's the first time we've beaten DeSoto in three years, and it's nice to come out on top against them."
Sebring is back on the diamond with a road game at Haines City on Thursday and the Blue Streaks are at DeSoto on Friday night.
"We've got a good group of girls on the team," Sinness said. "We've got good leadership from our four seniors and we have a nice blend of talented sophomores that give us depth on the bench.
"We have a chance to have a successful season if we can stay healthy and play up to our ability."
mpinson@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5837