Mistakes declaw Panthers in loss

By Dave Pieklik

LECANTO — Lecanto found the tourniquet to stop the bleeding but mistakes kept the Panthers from regaining life Tuesday night, as the girls softball team lost 6-2 to Central High School from Brooksville.

A close game early on could have been a mauling by the visiting Bears (3-2, 1-0 district) if the Panthers (2-1, 0-1 district) had made a few more errors. Lecanto coach Robert Dupler said afterward the seven errors and four hits his team had were unacceptable. Only four runs Central scored were earned.

“I expected more fight,” Dupler said. “I didn’t see enough fight tonight.”

The bleeding started with the Bears at bat in the top of the fourth inning with a 1-1 score. Central’s Katie McCarthy hit a sharp grounder to third basemen Amber Russo that she mishandled on a bounce, with McCarthy beating the throw. Two hitters later, McCarthy slid safely into third after a bunt was mishandled.

With the bases loaded, a tricky fly ball hit deep to centerfield was dropped, bringing in a run. A bunt brought in another run after indecision by a Lecanto infielder. Panther infielders met at the pitcher’s mound, with several exclaiming, “stop the bleeding.”

Only one more run crossed the plate in the inning. Unfortunately, Lecanto couldn’t find much momentum from the plate, with a last-inning run failing to spark a rally. The loss spoiled one Lecanto bright spot — shortstop Paige Richards went 3 for 4.

Central coach Tyson Ellis credited his team for hitting well and sticking with good fundamental play, while praising Lecanto for its determination and potential.

“Coach Dupler has a good, young team over there,” Ellis added.

It’s youth that Dupler pointed to as one possible factor in his team’s struggles; nine sophomores, one freshman, three juniors and two seniors make up the roster. He said without his team’s errors, the game would have been 2-2 in the seventh inning.

“You spot them five runs,” he continued, “you’re trying to pull yourself out of a barrel without any arms.”