Osceola wins a pair at Klassic softball tourney

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Osceola wins a pair at Klassic softball tourney

Sports

Thursday, 07 April 2011 07:40

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
With the Kissimmee Klassic behind them, the Osceola Lady Kowboys softball team turns its attention to winning the last 4A District 6 game on its schedule at Davenport Ridge Community High Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Kowgirls can clinch the No. 2 seed at the upcoming district tournament with a win.
Osceola defeated Naples Barron Collier, 6-2, Saturday in the gold bracket consolation final of the Kissimmee Klassic softball tournament at the Osceola County Softball Complex, its fourth game in 36 hours at the tournament that was shortened from three to two days because of rain.
“I thought our girls played very, very well,” Coach George Coffey said.
The Lady Kowboys, 15-4, scored five runs in the fifth inning to secure the win behind pitcher Sasha Mendez, who scattered eight hits over seven innings.
“Sasha really didn't have many problems at all after the first inning. She threw a real solid game,” Coffey said.
Alexa Ballard (6 for 12, 3 RBIs at the Klassic) and Carmen Nadal each had two RBIs. Nicole Osterman, Chantal Crockett and Jessica Callahan all knocked in a run for OHS.
Osceola lost its first-round game against Naples Gulf Coast, 5-2, after the Sharks scored four times in the sixth inning to erase a 2-1 OHS lead.
The Lady Kowboys scored both runs in the first inning when Osterman walked and scored on Ballard’s double. Nadal’s double drove in Ballard. The Sharks sixth-inning rally was aided by three OHS errors.
Coffey said what seemed to be an inconsistent strike zone may have frustrated pitcher Kenya Pereira against Gulf Coast.
“But, that isn't something you can do much about. It's something that you just have to work through. It may have opened the gates a little for them,” he said.
The Lady Kowboys lost a 6-5 decision to Riverview in nine innings in their early game Saturday. Riverview scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win.
“That was one of those games with a lot of excitement, a lot of back and forth and back and forth,” Coffey said. “It was exciting for the fans, and (assistant) Coach (Fred) Klammer did a great job unveiling our run and gun offense. It changed things up a little, and I think our kids enjoyed that. What I liked about our team was its resiliency. They kept coming back, they didn't let anything stop them.”
Osterman homered in the Lady Kowboys 4-3 win over Bradford Starke Friday. Crockett, Callahan and Nadal also had run-producing hits for the Lady Kowboys.
Mendez pitched 4 1/3 innings to earn the win. Morgan Crapo earned a save.
Sarasota edged Plant City, 2-0, to win the blue bracket championship and Keystone Heights out-hit Pine Castle Christian, 10-6, for the gold bracket crown. Cape Coral Baker edged Lake Brantley, 2-1, for the white bracket title.
Coffey said Osceola is ready for the district tournament at Lake Wales in two weeks.
The team plays at St. Cloud next Thursday before going to Naples for a tournament.
“We're pretty well set. It's just a matter of getting ourselves prepared for what's ahead,” Coffey said.
Harmony will visit St. Cloud today at 7 p.m for a rescheduled game that was rained out last Thursday.
The Longhorns, the No. 1 seed at the 4A-6 district tournament, will host Pine Castle Christian Friday at 7 p.m.