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Pasco: Games Of The Week

By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: March 23, 2009

TUESDAY:

Baseball: Mitchell at Alonso – 7 p.m.

This is THE game of the week. The Class 6A, District 7 rivals are atop the standings and if Mitchell has any hopes of grabbing the top spot away from Alonso before tournament time, this is a must-win.

Alonso is undefeated (10-0, 7-0) and again possesses one of, if not the, top pitching staffs in the region. Ravens hurlers have allowed only 11 total runs all season.

Mitchell (11-2, 6-2) is no slouch on the bump, either, and will be throwing team ace and University of Florida commit Patrick Schuster at the Ravens. Schuster was scheduled to start against Alonso in the team's first meeting on March 5, but was held out due to a high fever. The Ravens narrowly escaped Mitchell on that night, 5-3. Mitchell will also be countering Alonso's sharpshooters with a dangerously potent lineup that has scored almost twice as many runs as Alonso this season (121-68).

Softball: Sunlake at Gulf – 7 p.m.

Last month when Gulf High entered its game with Sunlake, the Lady Buccaneers were fresh off a big win over Class 4A, District 8 rival Nature Coast Tech. The same can be said for Tuesday after Gulf took out NCT for a second time last Friday night, 3-2. Hopes will be that history does not repeat itself come the Seahawks' latest arrival. Sunlake (11-5, 8-4) pounded Gulf 12-5 in the earlier meeting.

The District 4A-8 standings are extremely tight this season and Gulf (7-9, 5-7) could desperately use a victory to make a run at a Top 3 seeding in the April tournament. Sunlake is also trying to keep up with first-place Zephyrhills.

WEDNESDAY:

Softball: Land O' Lakes at Mitchell – 7 p.m.

This one has no bearing on district standings, but it does pit two of the counties' top teams against one another for what should be a nail biter. Land O' Lakes (9-1) is coming off its first loss of the season to Zephyrhills and Mitchell (11-4) seems to be hitting its stride, winning its last five games. Over that span, the Mustangs have outscored opponents 20-3. Both teams are lights-out on the mound and can slam out hits at the plate, so even the smallest of mistakes could be the deciding factor in this one.

FRIDAY:

Baseball: River Ridge at Land O' Lakes – 7 p.m.

River Ridge (8-6, 3-3) has one more crack at the district's top team during the regular season. The Royal Knights were soundly beaten 13-1 on March 10 by Land O' Lakes, but the Gators have been stumbling of late. LOL (8-4, 5-2) has lost three of its past four, including Class 5A, District 7 games to Wesley Chapel and Central. Pulling off the upset may give River Ridge the boost of confidence it needs within what may be a newly winnable district.

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

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