The days are winding down for the school year, as spring sports are embarking on their respective postseasons. Last week, both baseball and flag football teams from around the county wrapped up their regular seasons, positioning themselves as best they could for this week’s district tournaments.
In baseball, Weeki Wachee freshman Jayden Allen certainly had an interesting week that began with what should have been his third no-hitter of the season. Allen actually threw nine perfect innings, including two extras, in an April 8 game against Citrus. He struck out 10, retiring all 27 batters he faced, but he turned over a scoreless game to the bullpen for the 10th inning after throwing 95 pitches. The visiting Hurricanes would end up scoring in the 10th on their lone hit of the game in an inning that also featured a walk and two errors.
Better times came for Allen and the Hornets on Friday. The underclassman hit a grand slam in a 15-0 victory over Fivay. Jacob Barnum contributed a double and a triple, scoring three runs and driving in two. Jack Strong had two hits, including a double and two RBI. Christian Zahora also had two hits and two RBI, and Jase Kelly added two hits with a triple and an RBI for the Hornets (14-11).
Nature Coast (17-7) went 3-0, beating Hernando twice. In a 6-2 win over the Leopards on April 8, Jackson Hoyt tripled and drove in two runs, Bryce Hewell doubled and drove in two runs, Brady McMurdo had a double and an RBI, and Raymond Groetsch struck out eight in five scoreless innings.
Last Thursday, the Sharks downed Hudson 13-2 with McMurdo hitting a home run and collecting three RBI, and Hewell homering with two RBI. Hoyt also drove in two in that one while striking out 10 over four innings, giving up two unearned runs on a hit and two walks.
Nature Coast also had a 3-0 week in flag football, finishing the regular season at 11-3. The Sharks topped Springstead 13-6 on April 7, needing two overtimes. Madelyn DePetrillo completed 13 of 26 passes for 123 yards and threw for two touchdowns, and also had two interceptions on defense.
DePetrillo also threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in a 27-6 win over Lecanto on April 9, one day after the Sharks beat Anclote 25-6.
Weeki Wachee (9-4) blanked Citrus 7-0 on April 8, with Karly Pasmore throwing for 134 yards and Delanie Evans catching a touchdown. The next day, the Hornets beat Crystal River 33-0, as Pasmore completed 17 of 28 passes for 262 yards and threw for five touchdowns. Joelys Rodriguez caught three of those scores.
After the loss to Nature Coast, Springstead (9-5) won back-to-back games 26-0 against The Villages on April 8 and Citrus on April 9. Against the Buffaloes, J’Ziyah Munford threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Addisson Osborne had a touchdown catch and three interceptions on defense. Munford had two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown versus Citrus, and Brooke Smith had two touchdown receptions.
Softball still has two more weeks of its regular season, and Springstead continued a strong campaign with two wins. The Eagles (12-3) bounced host Cypress Creek 8-0 on April 9, when Rachel Rivera went 3 for 4 with a double, three runs and an RBI, Ava Miller had a double and two RBI, and Kamie Pond was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Alivia Miller drove in a run as well and pitched seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts.
Hernando (12-6-1) beat Dunnellon 10-9 on April 9, with Aubrey Knierim going 3 for 5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Ammarae Easton was 3 for 5 with a triple, two runs and an RBI, and Kenderlyn Hart went 3 for 5 with a run and two RBI.
The Leopards also beat Kathleen on Friday, 15-0, behind Kaitlyn Carter going 2 for 2 with a triple, a homer, a run and three RBI, plus throwing three no-hit innings with a walk and six strikeouts. Lily Jernigan had a home run, scored twice and drove in two, and Easton was 3 for 3 with a double, three runs and an RBI.
