Bay Area Batting Order (softball rankings): Week 4

Leadoff: Gaither (9-2)
Last week's ranking: 6th
Last week's results: defeated Plant, 6-2; defeated Sickles, 5-0; defeated Countryside, 4-2
An astounding three-game run last week -- despite an injury to their best pitcher -- propels the Cowboys right back to the top of the charts. With senior ace Morgan Grove (muscle strain on lower left quad) playing only the field, Gaither got another solid pitching effort -- and a homer -- from senior Katie Forbes in a 4-2 win against Countryside. In last week's three triumphs, Gaither homered seven times.

Second: Pasco (8-0)
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Last week's results: defeated Nature Coast, 4-1; defeated Wiregrass Ranch, 14-1
With ace Colena Lazar resting, twin sister Colesa tossed a six-inning no-hitter Friday against Wiregrass Ranch. Frankly, we see no North Suncoast club stopping the Pirates in the regular season except maybe Pasco's baseball team, whom they face later this month in an exhibition.

Three-Hole: Countryside (9-1)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Last week's results: defeated Alonso, 10-5; defeated East Lake, 5-0; lost to Gaither, 4-2
Bittersweet weekend for Cougars, who fall to Gaither less than 24 hours after getting a no-hitter -- and nearly a perfect game -- from freshman Alyssa Bache

Cleanup: Chamberlain (5-0)
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Last week's results: defeated Leto, 16-3
If they had even one quality win, Chiefs might make case for No. 1. In her first 13 at-bats, Chamberlain senior and Stanford signee Mary Kate Smith had 12 hits (.923 average).

Fifth(tie): Mitchell (6-1)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Last week's results: defeated Ridgewood, 12-1
Mustangs play host to Countryside on Tuesday in a game that could produce great upheaval in these very rankings. If the area has a better leadoff hitter than Mitchell senior Tenisha Dixon, we haven't seen her.

Fifth (tie): Tarpon Springs (6-1)
Last week's ranking: 5th
Last week's results: defeated Clearwater, 24-2
Huge week for the Spongers, who face Pinellas Park on Monday and Palm Harbor University the following night. 

Seven-Hole: River Ridge (6-0)
Last week's ranking: 7th
Last week's results: defeated Sunlake, 15-2
After two rainouts, the Royal Knights face district rival Land O'Lakes on Thursday, when the chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Eighth: Durant (9-2)
Last week's ranking: 8th
Last week's results: defeated East Bay, 12-0; defeated Sarasota Riverview, 12-0
Another huge week for Cougars ace Sara Demuth (pronounced KO-fax) who two-hits East Bay and no-hits Riverview.

Nine-Hole: Plant (7-1)
Last week's ranking: 9th
Last week's results: lost to Gaither, 6-2; defeated Middleton, 12-0; defeated Alonso, 8-0
Senior Maiken Stefany drove in four runs and pitched two no-hit innings against a decent Alonso club.

On the bench: Palm Harbor University (8-2), Pinellas Park (8-3), Land O'Lakes (5-0), Nature Coast (8-2), Springstead (7-1)

Comments

[Adam Cutter]

Why isn't Northside Christian on here? They must be under-rated or something because they're really good?