Sebring Softball Runs Past LaBelle

Niki Helms threw six no-hit innings and Haley Pack finished the job on Thursday as the Sebring softball team picked up its second straight win to start the season with a 7-1 no-hit victory over LaBelle.

Pack also starred at the plate: She was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two stolen bases and Sammie Lower added an RBI for Sebring, which had eight stolen bases to keep the momentum on their side.

"Our baserunning kind of kept us in the game," said Sebring coach Joe Sinness. "They couldn't catch up with Niki's fastball and Karrie Dudek made a couple of great defensive plays.

"There was one where she stopped it, rolled around on the ground and made a good throw to first. She had the most balls hit her way all night."

The Streaks had their home opener on Friday night (see highlandstoday.com/sports for result). They host Frostproof at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

BASEBALL: Lake Placid 9, Evangelical Christian 4

ARCADIA - Senior CW Vought hit a home run, a double and an RBI single on Thursday night to lead the Lake Placid baseball team to a 9-4 victory over Evangelical Christian at the DeSoto Classic.

The senior also started on the mound and fanned four batters over three innings.

"We came out and played like we were supposed to," said LP coach Dan Coomes. "We made adjustments at the plate and hit the ball hard even when we made outs."

Coomes said third baseman David Hodge made some outstanding plays at the hot corner, including diving catch down the line at a key juncture in the game.

"They had a bit of a rally going with two outs and two on," Coomes said. "They hit a shot between third and short and he dove and made a play to end the inning."

The Dragons are back in action at 5 p.m. Tuesday against Lake Region at the Bill Jarrett Early Bird tournament in Avon Park.