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6th Inning Miscues Trip Up Mustangs

COUGARS 2, MUSTANGS 0

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Countryside outfielder Holly Ostrander fouls a pitch off from Mitchell's Olivia Kline Thursday night.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: February 12, 2009

TRINITY - Two of the top Class 6A, District 7 pitchers faced off Thursday night when Countryside's Alyssa Bache and Mitchell's Olivia Kline took the mound for an early-season showdown between potential playoff contenders.

Both lived up to expectations, but it was Bache who would get the upper hand as Countryside (1-0) edged its rival and picked up a 2-0 road victory.

After going hitless through the first five innings, Countryside leadoff hitter Ayanna Andrews ripped a base hit up the middle to start the sixth. The speedy shortstop then stole second and third to set up Brittany Dattilo's suicide squeeze bunt that plated the game's first run.

Andrews finished the night with four stolen bases all together.

"Speed kills," Mitchell head coach Scott Bisbe said. "That leadoff hitter they've got (Andrews) has unbelievable speed. We booted it around a little bit and they did what they had to do."

The Cougars kept the pressure on and would score again during the frame. With two outs and Gia Tomossone on second, junior Ashleigh Bynum hit a shot back to the mound that slammed off Kline's glove. Seeing Mitchell catcher Stephanie Palazzolo making the play out in front of the plate and no one covering home, Tomossone alertly rounded third for the score when Palazzolo's throw to first did not get Bynum.

The run was unearned because Tomossone reached base on a passed ball when she struck out swinging – one Kline's seven punch-outs.

Mitchell (1-1) looked to make a comeback bid in its last at bats, starting with leftfielder Ally Summers' leadoff double to left. Cortney Radke stepped up next and roped a liner to left, but a nice running play was made for the first out. The Mustangs' momentum was quelled when Kline hit a slow roller to Andrews at short. Rather than going to first, Andrews caught Summers trying to take third.

Bache then racked up her eighth strikeout to end night.

"Those are two of the best pitchers in the area," Bisbe said of Kline and Bache. "You could tell by how many foul balls were hit."

The Mustangs looked as though they would be the first to strike throughout the first five innings. Every hard shot, though, was either hit directly at a Countryside fielder or a skillful defensive play would be made.

"We hit the ball hard and we hit a lot of balls right at people," Bisbe said. "We couldn't get any in the holes, but we didn't quit."

Both squads will take the field for district games again on Tuesday. Mitchell travels to Gaither High and Countryside plays host to Sickles High.

SCORING:

COUNTRYSIDE- 000 – 002 – 0 --- 2-3-0
MITCHELL- 000 – 000 – 0 --- 0-2-2

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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