PREP ROUNDUP: Sarasota comes up short against Mitchell in regionals
SARASOTA — The Sarasota High softball team had just what it wanted.
Trailing by three runs heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Sailors quickly put the first two runners on base to bring the tying run to the plate for the Nos. 4-6 hitters. First, Jaden Baker led off with a solid single to center field and then Rylee Miller followed with a liner to left-center field.
However, sometimes even the best laid plans do not work out.
Mitchell High right-hander Sydney Fowler struck out the next two hitters and got a pop fly to the second baseman to end the game preserving the visiting Mustangs’ 6-3 victory over the Sailors in a Class 6A regional quarterfinal game Thursday night.
“Sometimes things don’t happen the way you'd like them too,” Sarasota first-year coach Heather Mushrush. “It didn’t go our way tonight.
The Mustangs got two runs in the first inning before the Sailors’ Brooke Bendel belted her 10th home run of the season to slice the deficit in half.
Sixth-seeded Mitchell broke it open with three runs in the top of the third inning — the Mustangs had nine hits and five runs in the first three innings.
“We were trying different pitching changes and hoping things kind of worked. We’ve been through that strategy here and there and it has worked for us,” Mushrush said.
Miranda Gill replaced starter Ryleigh Bennett in the circle to begin the fourth inning and was charged with one run in 2⅓ innings. Bennett came on and got the final five outs for the Sailors.
“We went out with our strongest first,” Mushrush said. “Then we like to change speed and change rotation a little bit with Miranda. And then Brooke comes in. She’s got a quick ball and a nice changeup. Just trying to change up looks and see what we can do.”
Third-seeded Sarasota (17-8) had won two straight and seven of its previous eight. games.
“We’ll be back strong next year,” Mushrush said.
Sarasota takeaways
• Mushrush felt confident with Baker leading off the seventh. After getting off to a slow start at the plate, Baker raised her average to .292 entering the game. After going 3-for-4 the junior finished the season at .327. “Jaden has been the one who has gotten us going,” Mushrush said. “She had a rough beginning of the year at bat, but she has turned it on lately.”
• Bendel’s 10th home run of the season, a bomb to center field, pulled her to within one of Jade Rhodes’ school-record 11 in 2002. SarahBeth Wengerd finished with 25 career homers, a Sailors’ record. “She’s the Sota bomb squad leader,” Mushrush said of Bendel.
• The Sailors graduate three seniors Aurora Marino, Miller and Allyson Becker. “I’m gonna miss them,” said Mushrush, who was an assistant for three years before taking over as head coach. “These are my babies. They really are my babies. To see them leave next year is going to be hard going forward.
East Lake 4, Venice 1
CLASS 7A REGION QUARTERFINAL
AT: East Lake High, Tarpon Springs.
TOP PLAYERS: V, Raionna Smith (2-4), Micaela Hartman (3-3, 3B, run)
PITCHING: Layne Preece (6IP, 6H, 4R-2ER, 3BB).
OF NOTE: East Lake pitcher Emma Ream struck out 10 and did not walk a hitter. … East Lake scored all four of its runs in the first inning. … Venice made four errors.
CLASS 7A REGION QUARTERFINAL
Lakewood Ranch 13,
West Orange 3 (5 innings)
NEXT: Windermere at Lakewood Ranch, 7 p.m. Tuesday (region semifinal)
CLASS 6A REGION QUARTERFINAL
Palmetto 3, Sickles 1
NEXT: Palmetto at Land O’Lakes, 7 p.m. Tuesday (region semifinal)
East Bay 6, Braden River 0
CLASS 5A REGION QUARTERFINAL
Archbishop McCarthy 8, Charlotte 4
TRACK AND FIELD
Mantas' Willis 2nd in state in high jump
GAINESVILLE — Riley Willis of Lemon Bay High finished second in the high jump at the FHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Meet at the University of Florida’s Percy Beard Track.
Willis cleared 6 feet, 5 ½ inches.
Port Charlotte High’s Tyler Wadsworth completed his high school career with a pair of fifths and a 16th. He took fifth in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs and was 16th in the 3,200-meter run.
AREA CLASS 2A BOYS
2. Riley Willis, Lemon Bay, high jump 6-5½
5. Tyler Wadsworth, Port Charlotte, 800, 1:55.83
5. Tyler Wadsworth, Port Charlotte, 1,600, 4:19.60
11. Brian Valiente, Parrish Community, discus, 138-9
12. Jace Huber, Lemon Bay, high jump, 5-11½
14. Daunte Douglas, Port Charlotte, long jump, 20-7¼
16. Tyler Wadsworth, Port Charlotte, 3,200, 9:59.16
17. Lashawn Powell, Port Charlotte, long jump, 19-9 3/4
17. Dauntae Douglas, Port Charlotte, triple jump 39-6 3/4
DQ. Parrish Community 4x100 boys.
AREA CLASS 2A GIRLS
6. Jakai Peterson, Booker, long jump 17-113/4
7. Presley Engelauf, Lemon Bay, high jump, 4-11¾
10. Booker girls, 4x100 relay, 49.61
11. Jakai Peterson, Booker, 400, 58.95
12. Natalee Brown, Lemon Bay, high jump, 4-9¾
12. Gabriella Lamprecht, Parrish Community, 300 hurdles, 47.69
12. Parrish Community 4x400 relay, 4:08.80
13. Sierra Blaney, Lemon Bay, discus, 100-5
15. Presley Engelauf, Lemon Bay, javelin 95-1
15. Parrish Community girls, 4x100 relay, 50.40
17. Olivia Becker, Lemon Bay, discus, 98-6
17. Natalee Brown, Lemon Bay, triple jump 35-1
Dennis Maffezzoli is the deputy sports editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and chief reporter for Sarasota Herald-Tribune and HTpreps covering Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: PREP ROUNDUP: Sarasota comes up short against Mitchell in regionals
