Softball Starting Lineup: week 4

1. Chamberlain (10-0)
On tap: Tues. at Blake; Fri. vs. Riverview
Why the Chiefs are ranked: Chiefs solidify their hold on the top spot after completing the regular-season sweep of Plant. Alexandra Hartshorn (6-0) limited the Panthers to one run on six hits, fanning eight batters. It was Hartshorn’s second win against Plant. She shut out the Panthers on four hits in the second game of the Chiefs’ season. A quick note for Plant fans to file away in the moral victory department: the Panthers’ lone run was the only one Hartshorn has allowed all season. Chamberlain’s strength of schedule receives a much-needed boost with games against Riverview and Gaither in the next two weeks.

2. Palm Harbor University (13-1)
On tap: Tues. vs. Pinellas Park; Wed. at Seminole; Fri. vs. Tarpon Springs
Why the Hurricanes are ranked: Just when it appeared East Lake would hold its 2-0 lead over PHU last Thursday and send the 5A-9 standings into complete disarray, the Hurricanes’ offense awakened, ignited by the bat of Jackie Katchuk, above left with pitcher Taylor Sabol, who mashed a three-run home run in the sixth inning to keep PHU in sole possession of first place. The Hurricanes' schedule doesn’t get any easier. Pinellas Park is itching for a rematch with the ‘Canes after losing by a run two weeks ago. The Patriots are still the only team to beat PHU. Seminole and Tarpon Springs are capable of the upset as well. If the ‘Canes get through this stretch unscathed, they’ll deserves serious consideration for the top spot.

3. Land O’Lakes (8-0)
On tap: Tues. at Wesley Chapel; Fri. vs. Zephyrhills
Why the Gators are ranked: Land O’Lakes nearly tasted defeat for the first time after letting a 5-0 lead slip away in the final inning against River Ridge. The Gators got the win, but not before the Royal Knights pulled within 5-4 and made things very interesting. Jessica Austin hit a two-run home run in a first inning that saw the Gators pull ahead 4-0. The Gators will have to maintain focus throughout against Zephyrhills this Friday. The Bulldogs upset previously unbeaten Pasco last week.

4. Sickles (11-2)
On tap: Tues. at Mitchell; Thurs. vs. St. Petersburg
Why the Gryphons are ranked: Sickles makes another sizable jump in the standings, moving three places into the No. 4 spot following a 2-1 win over Gaither last week. Sickles hurler Alyese Stapf battled all night in limiting the Cowboys to one run. Gaither loaded the bases twice and had the tying and go-ahead run on second and third base in the seventh inning, but Stapf gutted out the win. Sickles takes over first place in 6A-7, which is proving to be the bay area’s strongest district. Gaither and Sickles each have one district loss.

5. Plant City (14-2)
On tap: Today vs. Hillsborough; Wed. at Sarasota; Fri. at Lakeland
Why the Raiders are ranked: Plant City battled Durant to a scoreless draw through 10 innings before finally plating two runs in the top of the 11th to improve to 6-1 in 6A-8. Taylor Storey went 4-for-5 with a double and a RBI. The Raiders have now won four straight and should make it seven after three winnable games this week.

6. Plant (8-2)
On tap: Tues. at Robinson; Fri. vs. Hillsborough; Sat. vs. Leto
Why the Panthers are ranked: Plant could be overrated at the No. 6 spot. The Panthers have yet to beat a noteworthy team other than Durant (5-8) and are 0-2 against teams (okay, Chamberlain) in the Starting Lineup. The Panthers again struggled offensively in the rematch with Chamberlain, managing just one run. Still, Plant has pasted the teams it is supposed to beat, winning by an average score of 12-0. The Panthers are kind of a mystery at this point and will probably remain that way until they play in the Kissimmee Klassic in early April.

7. East Lake (9-4)
On tap: Thurs. vs. Clearwater; Fri. at Seminole
Why the Eagles are ranked: East Lake makes its first appearance in the Starting Lineup after beating Pinellas Park 4-2 to get back in the race for the top seed in 5A-9. A 7-5 loss to Palm Harbor University a day later though probably means the Hurricanes (8-0 in district) will end up as the regular-season district champ. Centerfielder Kirsten Bembnowski, a Florida Gulf Coast commit, had a home run to leadoff the fourth inning for East Lake against the Hurricanes. Sydney Dinelli hit a RBI, two out double to bring the Eagles within two runs in the seventh, but that was as close as they’d get. East Lake’s nondistrict matchup against a suddenly resurgent Seminole team on Friday is one of the better games this week.

8. Pinellas Park (14-2)
On tap: Tues. at Palm Harbor University; Thurs. vs. Dunedin
Why the Patriots are ranked: After starting the season as our No. 1 team, the Patriots are in a freefall after losses to Palm Harbor University and East Lake. Pinellas Park can rebound in the rubber match with PHU on Tuesday. The Patriots defeated the Hurricanes in the Lake Mary tournament earlier this season. Pinellas Park unloaded on Dixie Hollins and Clearwater after the East Lake loss, beating both teams by a combined score of 39-0. Taylor Klinesmith hit a home run against Dixie; Tracy Coward went yard in the Clearwater win.

9. Pasco (11-1)
On tap: Thurs. at Gulf; Fri. at Hudson
Why the Pirates are ranked: Pasco coach Shamalene Broner called the Pirates' 3-2 loss to rival Zephyrhills last week “a wakeup call.” Pasco led 2-0 going into the sixth, but Brandy Welch’s two-out, bases-loaded double sent the Pirates to their first loss of the season. Let’s see how Pasco responds in winnable road tests this week at Gulf and Hudson.

On the bench, waiting their turn (in alphabetical order): Bloomingdale (9-4), Countryside (7-3), Gaither (8-3), Mitchell (8-4), Newsome (10-3), River Ridge (7-3), St. Petersburg Catholic (10-3), Zephyrhills (7-4).

-- BRYAN BURNS