SPRING HILL – The Eagles are advancing to the district championship.
On Tuesday night, Springstead Softball (14-7) overwhelmed Cypress Creek (8-10) by a 9-1 margin in the 5A District 8 Semifinal at the Eagles Nest. The Red, White and Blue’s big win broke the three game skid they had been experiencing and righted the ship.
Not only that, but the Eagles exacted revenge on the Coyotes for spoiling their senior night just six nights ago. Head Coach Craig Swartout noted that his girls had been “a little bit down on ourselves” coming into the matchup due to their struggles during this stretch.
Swartout and his staff knew they were a better team than their recent results and challenged the squad to play better. “If you want to move on, then you really got to focus in,” the head coach said to his girls. “And we did tonight.”
The home team got off to a hot start with some “timely hitting” in the bottom of the first frame. With runners on second and third, Sophomore Pitcher Alivia Miller stepped up to the plate and belted a single to left field that ran Senior Pitcher Ava Miller and Freshman Audrina Savarese home.
With the bats warming up early, that allowed Miller to play with a lead. Coach Swartout noted that his pitchers are at their most dangerous when that happens.
“Our pitchers, if we get them a couple runs early, they are just so fierce. They are tough… [Alivia] gave up [a home run], but other than that, she was in total command. When she is like that, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to coach.”
That statement bore out on Tuesday as the younger Miller pitched a complete game while only surrendering a single score. The staff was also pleased to see their athletes make “some tremendous plays” on Tuesday. One play specifically comes to mind.
With Springstead having just extended their advantage to a three-score lead late in the previous inning, Freshman Lily Klink held the line. A high-effort diving catch on a shot to the outfield prevented a potential double early in the bottom of the fifth frame and helped to get the burgeoning offense back onto the field.
“I have been really just super pleased with [Klink],” said Coach Swartout. “She came out day one and she was all business. She likes to joke around when we joke around, but when she is on the field, she is all business. She has been a tremendous asset to us. She is really good.”
After the next two batters were summarily retired, the Eagles went back out on offense and got to work. Sophomore Haylee Brown, Freshman Sophia Whitacre, and Freshman Kamie Pond loaded the bases with no outs. The Eagles were a powderkeg looking to explode for more points. All they needed was a spark.
It would not take long, and the next few at bats would ice the game. Junior Rachel Rivera’s bouncing single ran Brown home before an error on Savarese’s pop fly ballooned the score to 6-1. Then, the home team added a few more insurance runs.
A walk on a wild pitch allowed Pond to steal home, and Junior Kaylana Lyon’s single ran in the final two scores. Miller and the defense finished the final frame off quickly to take the dominating 9-1 victory. After the game, Coach Swartout credited his batters ability to play with momentum.
“For whatever reason, we are a team that once we get two-three times in the lineup, then we really start having successful at bats,” the Eagles’ head coach said. “A couple beautiful bunts, you put a little pressure on them, you make them do things that make the defense uncomfortable, and we were able to capitalize and score some runs.”
Looking ahead, Coach Swartout and the Eagles will advance to the district championship against River Ridge who took down Wesley Chapel earlier on Tuesday. Springstead will host the Royal Knights in the tournament finale on Thursday night.
