Young All Saints Has Sights Set on Title
Mon. April 16, 2012 at 1:01 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff
By SOLANGE REYNER | THE LEDGER
LAKELAND | All Saints' Academy heads into the Class 2A, District 8 Tournament with a young squad.
Only two starters are seniors and two outfielders aren't even in high school yet.
But the Saints, who will play Sonrise Christian at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at All Saints, have proven all season long that age is nothing but a number.
They are the top seed in the district and sport an 18-2 overall record, 6-0 in the district.
The reason for their success?
"We've got good defense and good sticks," coach Bill McClellan said.
That, and surprisingly enough, experience.
They only lost two starters from a team that went to the regional finals last year and added two players who play travel ball year round, including Dominique Ashley, a freshman catcher, and Kaylaina Young, a sophomore who transferred in from Lake Wales.
Young is batting .389 with 19 RBIs and Ashley is hitting .341.
Lissette Garay, a member of the Puerto Rican junior national team, leads the team on the mound. The junior has a 1.55 ERA with an 11-2 record. Erika Fox, one of two seniors, leads the team in batting with a .522 average. She's only played a limited amount, though, because of a nagging ankle injury. She'll be good to go for the tournament, McClellan said.
Two other district tournaments start Tuesday, including Class 7A, District 7 at Bartow, and Class 3A, District 7 at the Westside Softball Complex in Lakeland. Today, No. 1 Auburndale plays No. 4 Tenoroc in a Class 5A, District 10 semifinal at 7 p.m. at Auburndale, while Lake Wales, the No. 2 seed by way of a coin flip, faces No. 4 Hardee at 5 p.m.
Also today, Sebring, the top seed in Class 6A, District 9, plays No. 4 Kathleen at 6 p.m. at Lake Gibson High School.
The 7A-7 tournament will most likely be the toughest.
Haines City, the No. 3 seed, plays Lakeland, a six seed, Tuesday at 6 p.m. If they win, they'll play Bartow, the No. 2 seed, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The teams split the regular season series, with Haines City taking the last game 4-3.
"I want to go out with a bang," Haines City first baseman Briona Brown said.
Added catcher Tori Thomas, also a senior: "We're going to have to work hard, but we have the team to do it."
George Jenkins, the No. 1 seed, also split the regular season series with Bartow. The Eagles will play the winner of Tuesday's Lake Region/Ridge Community game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday
Kathryn Dunn, the best hitter in the county with a .628 average, leads No. 4 Santa Fe Catholic into the Class 3A, District 7 tournament. The Crimson Hawks play top seed McKeel Academy at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The Wildcats (13-5, 5-1) are led by pitcher Amber Butler (11 wins) and Mikayla Barwig (28 runs scored).
Mulberry, the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A, District 10 tournament, faces the winner of today's Lake Placid/Avon Park game at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Frostproof. The Panthers (15-7, 7-1) are led by Autumn Terwilliger, who leads the county in runs scored (31).
DISTRICT SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES
Class 2A, District 8 at All Saints Academy
Tuesday
(2) Oasis Christian vs. (3) Victory Christian, 5 p.m.
(1) All Saints Academy vs. (4) Sonrise Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Finals, 7 p.m.
Class 3A, District 7 at Westside Softball Complex Tuesday
(2) Fort Meade vs. (3) Lakeland Christian, 5 p.m.
(1) McKeel Academy vs. (4) Santa Fe Catholic, 7 p.m.
Friday
Finals, 7 p.m.
Class 4A, District 10 at Frostproof
Today
(4) Lake Placid vs. (5) Avon Park, 5: 30 p.m. — at Lake Placid
Thursday
(3) Frostproof vs. (2) DeSoto, 5:30
(1) Mulberry vs. winner of Lake Placid/Avon Park
Friday
Finals, 7 p.m.
Class 5A, District 10
at Auburndale
Today
(1) Auburndale vs. (4) Tenoroc, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
(2) Lake Wales vs. (3) Hardee, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Finals, 7 p.m.
Class 6A, District 9
at Lake Gibson
Today
(1) Sebring vs. (4) Kathleen, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
(2) Winter Haven vs. (3) Lake Gibson, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Finals, 7 p.m.
Class 7A, District 7
at Bartow
Tuesday
(3) Haines City vs. (6) Lakeland, 6 p.m.
(4) Lake Region vs. (5) Ridge Community, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
(1) George Jenkins vs. Winner of Lake Region/Ridge Community, 6 p.m.
(2) Bartow vs. Winner of Haines City/Lakeland, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Finals, 7 p.m.
