DIXIE ANGELS SOFTBALL 293675
BELLEVIEW –
Last summer it took eight games for the Spring Hill Angels All-Stars (ages 9-10) to capture the Florida State Championship.
Despite a slight breeze in the 90-degree temperatures Monday afternoon in Marion County, Head Coach Glenn Primavera’s club accomplished what no other West Hernando County team has ever achieved before – back-to-back state titles.
Spring Hill (5-0 states, 8-0 overall) completed its five-game blitz at states Monday by zipping host Belleview (2-2 overall), 9-0. With the win, Spring Hill represents Florida in the July 31 Angels World Series in Vancleave, Miss.
Many heroes
In the series sweep, Spring Hill out-scored its opposition, 43-1, featuring four shutouts.
In Monday’s 92-minute affair, right-hander Abbey Primavera twirled a complete-game (five-inning) no-hitter at Belleview Head Coach Bret Mickel’s squad while Paige Pfent drilled her second three-run homer in as many days.
How dominant was Primavera?
The right-hander retired 15-of-16 batters she faced as Belleview posted a collective 0-for-15 effort at the plate. After retiring the game’s first five batters, Alyssa Baratta coaxed a bases-empty free pass. Baratta was left stranded at first as Primavera mowed down the final 10 batters she faced.
“I threw a lot strikes and my changeup and screwball were working,” said the 11-year-old Primavera. “I thought last year’s championship was harder. That pitcher was a little better that day.”
Primavera finished with seven strikeouts and was backed up by air-tight defense that converted 22-of-22 chances.
By comparison, Belleview hurt its upset chances by committing a game-high five errors behind Syndey Mickel, who scattered nine hits and nine runs (seven unearned).
Spring Hill opened the scoring in the first frame against Mickel as Chayse Skinner led off with a walk and three batters later scored on dropped liner off the bat of Heather Shagoury to second base, 1-0. Skinner would finish with three runs scored.
“Last year’s championship was much harder winning,” declared the 10-year-old Skinner. “I think we’ve really come around and played well. Abbey’s the key. She did great; she threw strikes and made a lot of plays.”
In the second inning, Abby Oliver and Paige Pfent reached on back-to-back free passes. Miranda Arroyo followed with a fly ball that should have been caught that was ruled an error allowing Oliver to score. Mickel was fortunate to fan Spring Hill’s last two batters to strand the bases loaded.
Skinner opened the third frame with a double to right-center and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Primavera down the left field line, 3-0. Three batters later, Oliver’s RBI single plated Primavera, 4-0.
In the fifth, a Cerina Brooks singled – her second of the game – and three more Belleview errors led to two unearned runs. Bre Blankenship walked before Pfent ripped a 2-1 pitch over the right-center field fence for three-run homer to close the books, 9-0.
“The key for us is we don’t make many mistakes,” said the 11-year-old Brooks. “And we all work well together. Abbey did a phenomenal job. But like everybody else, I think last year’s (championship) game was harder.”
Pfent’s homer was her second in as many days.
Which tater did Pfent enjoy the most?
“Today’s,” said the 10-year-old Pfent. “Because I hit it in the championship game and the ball landed near by parent’s tent. The reason we have played so well is we didn’t make many mistakes. We can go far if we continue to play this way.”
Coaches’ corner
The biggest contrast in the title game appeared to the defensive and offensive execution.
“We let up too many errors to beat a good team,” explained Coach Mickel. “(Offensively), we put the bat on the ball and couldn’t get the hit to score. What I did like most was our kids played they’re best.
“The biggest difference was we were a little looser with the ball (on defense) and we couldn’t get the ball out of the infield (on offense),” noted Coach Mickel.
The game’s difference was crystal clear to Coach Primavera.
“We made no mistakes on the field and we got outstanding pitching,” said Coach Primavera, who became the first West Hernando mentor to earn a pair of state titles. “The great thing was we were killing the ball.
“Normally, we like to see a little more speed from the other pitchers,” he added. “But she (Mickel) threw strikes today. We did a solid job of hitting the ball.”
What about Abbey’s and Paige’s performances?
“I can’t remember any hard hit balls against her,” recalled Coach Primavera. “She did a great job of keeping them off balance. Belleview went 0-for-15 at the plate. I couldn’t be any prouder of our pitching.”
“As far as Paige, we all knew she was capable of playing like this,” smiled Coach Primavera. “She literally can go yard any time. I knew the ball was gone today the minute she hit it.”
Spring Hill 9, Belleview 0
123 45 R H E
SH 112 05 — 9 9 0
BELL 000 00 — 0 0 5
SH – Primavera and Blankenship.
BELL – Mickel and Nohr.
W – Primavera. L – Mickel.
2B – Skinner (SH).
HR – Pfent (SH).
Records – Spring Hill (5-0 states, 8-0 overall), Belleview (2-2 states, 2-2 overall).
Dixie Youth League Girls Softball Angels (ages 9-10) All-Stars State Recap at the Belleview Sports Complex
07-09:
Spring Hill 3, Marianna 0
Belleview 4, Paxton 2
Hardee 15, Wahneta 5
07-10:
Spring Hill 10, Belleview 0
Paxton 10, Marianna 0
Spring Hill 11, Hardee 1 (4 Inns.)
Wahneta 2, Paxton 1 (9 Inns.)
07-11:
Spring Hill 10, Wahneta 0 (5 Inns.)
Belleview 6, Hardee 0
07-12:
(Championship)
Spring Hill 9, Belleview 0
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5278 or online at [email protected].
