Wewa wins state opener

PLANT CITY - Glades Day coach Sherri Paez saw it coming.

She predicted Wednesday's Class 2A softball semifinal against Wewahitchka would come down to a fielding blunder.

It did, and Wewa edged past another private school in the state Final Four.

A throwing error in the fifth inning by Glades Day allowed Wewahitchka's Rebecca Barnes to score the game's only run in a 1-0 win at Plant City Stadium.
Wewa (26-2) will defend its 2007 state title today at 3 p.m. CDT against Jacksonville Providence (26-3). Providence defeated Southwest Florida Christian 3-0 in the first semifinal.

Wewa pitcher Samantha Rich once again dominated from the circle, recording 18 strikeouts while allowing just two hits. The first of three putouts not recorded by catcher Tori Bowles against Glades Day (21-8) didn't come until the fourth inning.

Rich sat down the first four batters she faced, and after allowing a double struck out the next six. Even when Rich got into trouble she found ways to get out of the inning.
In the fifth, sixth and seventh Glades Day's leadoff batter advanced into scoring position, but Rich had at least two consecutive strikeouts to end each inning

"She just turned the wick up on them," Wewa coach Coy Adkins said. "She just dug deep. That's what separates her from other good pitchers. She has a little bit more she can dig down for."

Wewahitchka was unable to unleash its power hitting against Glades Day ace Kailey Boss. The Lady Gators had five hits and struck out six times. Boss shut down Wewa's explosive attack that produced 43 home runs this season.

"You have to give her credit," Adkins said. "We were undisciplined at times. She walked a couple batters and she should have walked more but we chased it. I'm not making excuses, she's good."

Barnes was the only Lady Gator with multiple hits off Boss, going 2 for 2 with three stolen bases. Her second hit, which came in the fifth, sparked Wewa's lone run.

After reaching first on an infield single, she stole second during the next at-bat.

When Summer Grice walked for the second time, Wewa had runners on first and second with one out and Rich at the plate.

Adkins called for a double steal and Glades Day catcher Samantha Sgroi's throw to shortstop Amber Martyn, who was covering third, hit Barnes in the knee and rolled to the dugout fence. Barnes scored and Grice advanced to third, where she was stranded when consecutive strikeouts ended the inning.

"It was a game that I thought even though it was 0-0 we felt we were the better team the whole time," Adkins said. "We kept blowing opportunities to score. When we finally scored the run, I think it helped our kids relax a little bit."

Both offenses stalled throughout.

Chapman started the game with a double to left field, but was stranded on third after Wewa loaded the bases. Rich's only hit of the game was a standup triple in the third which was wasted.

Wewa and Glades Day each left six runners on base.
Glades Day's best chances to score came in the second and fifth when it advanced runners to third. Both times they stayed there.

"I was expecting another war," Adkins said. "I knew they had beaten some big schools and good teams. Anytime you take a private school from a big area you're in for a dogfight."