Bay Area Batting Order (Softball): Bracketology degree not required

Leadoff: Gaither (12-2)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Last week's results: defeated Robinson, 8-0
Cowboys play Thursday at Countryside in what has become, for our money, the area's best softball rivalry.

Second: Pasco (11-0)
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Last week's results: defeated Gulf, 5-2
Pirates left-handed ace Colena Lazar (8-0, 0.56 ERA) doesn't fret much about run support, perhaps because she does very nicely supporting herself (.400, 5 HR, 14 RBI).

Three-Hole: Countryside (11-1)
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Last week's results: defeated Dunedin, 11-1
In their only game last week, the Cougars topped Dunedin by the five-inning mercy rule. In other shocking developments, the Rays announced Rocco Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely.

Cleanup: Chamberlain (11-0)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Last week's results: defeated Jefferson, 13-6; defeated Sickles, 5-2; defeated Blake, 19-0
Considering the area's erratic weather pattern, we briefly considered propelling the Chiefs to No. 1 for actually getting in three games last week. We'll consider it even more if they defeat district rival Plant tonight (in a make-up game) and again on Saturday.

Fifth: Tarpon Springs (8-1)
Last week's ranking: 5th
Last week's results: defeated Largo, 19-0
Which is more accurate: to say the Spongers defeated Largo by a football score, or that the Packers football team defeated all its local opposition last fall by softball scores?

Six-Hole: Plant (11-1)
Last week's ranking: 7th
Last week's results: defeated Robinson, 18-4; defeated Hillsborough, 7-1
Panthers get two chances for a quality win this week with two games in six days (tonight, Saturday afternoon) against Chamberlain.

Seventh: Land O'Lakes (8-0)
Last week's ranking: 9th
Last week's results: defeated Wesley Chapel, 13-3; defeated Mitchell, 5-4
At last, Gators notch a quality win, 5-4 against Mitchell. Junior Michelle Bradley went the distance against the Mustangs and belted a first-inning homer--her fifth of the year.

Eighth: Riverview (8-2)
Last week's ranking: 8th
Last week's results: defeated Sarasota Riverview, 6-3; defeated Alonso, 7-2
Big week for Sharks junior Katie Gwinn, who records two pitching victories and collects three RBI in win against Sarasota Riverview.

Nine-Hole: St. Petersburg Catholic (12-0)
Last week's ranking: NR
Last week's results: defeated Sarasota Booker, 12-0; defeated Berkeley Prep, 1-0; defeated Palmetto, 13-3
The Barons crash our rankings after winning three games in four days last week. Sophomore ace Chloe Saganowich is 10-0.

On the bench: River Ridge (7-1), Plant City (6-2), Durant (10-5), Nature Coast (10-2)

Comments

[bigfan]

It is hard to argue either of those statements... Brunk's 5 homers (tied for Tampa Bay lead) and .548 Average are impressive, Bache's (6-0, .54 ERA)ability to win big games (Gaither) in a tough division, as a freshman, is also impressive. And of course, no pitching conversation should be held without mentioning the name Sara Nevins! 10 wins, .58 ERA and 171 STRIKEOUTS looks pretty impressive from where I'm sitting. Congrats to all three players for having such amazing seasons so far. Keep up the hard work.

alyssa bache is the number 1 picther in the county

alyssa bache is the number 1 picther in the county

katie brunk is the best player in the county
CT WHAT