Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Stevens throws a no-hitter as Sinton defeats Orange Grove in area round

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Saturday, April 29, 2000

Stevens throws a no-hitter as Sinton defeats Orange Grove in area round
Five walks taint pitching achievment, but don't derail 8-0 win
By Matt Young

Caller-Times
SINTON - Amanda Stevens threw a no-hitter, but her pitching gem was not without flaws.
   Stevens struggled at times, giving up five walks but still dominating on the mound as Sinton cruised past Orange Grove 8-0 in a Region IV-3A area playoff Friday. Sinton (22-6) advances to play Marion in the regional quarterfinals Monday at 7 p.m. at Floresville.
   Stevens controlled Orange Grove, not allowing a ball to be hit out of the infield. She also showed an overpowering side, striking out five straight Lady Bulldogs during one stretch and finishing with eight strikeouts in the game.
   "Amanda didn't have her control, but you can't really complain because she controlled the game," said Sinton coach Wade Wilson. "It's been exactly 21 days since she last pitched, so the lack of control is understandable."
   Sinton received a first-round bye after winning the District 30-3A title. That meant the Pirates had 17 days of rest between the end of the regular season and its first playoff game. It also meant 17 days of rust.
   "The 17 days off killed us," Wilson said. "We had a slow start. Luckily, we were able to put something together a little bit and get the win, but we have a long ways to go. We're going to have to go back to work and make sure we're ready by Monday."
   After a couple of sluggish innings, Sinton put a rally together by playing small ball.
   After Beth Harrison walked, Rene Bagnall bunted for a base hit. Although she had no play, Orange Grove third baseman Mona Villareal threw wildly to first base. As the ball rolled into foul territory, Harrison came all the way around to score the game's first run.
   Sinton went on to load the bases with a walk and another bunt single. Tracey Garcia ripped a single to right field that gave Sinton a 2-0 lead. Sinton added two more runs in the inning courtesy of a wild pitch and an Ashley Yeats ground out that gave Sinton a 4-0 lead, which was plenty of support for Stevens.
   Sinton added four more runs in the fifth and sixth innings with a little help from two Orange Grove errors. Yeats led Sinton's offense with two RBI.
   The loss ended Orange Grove's first-ever softball playoff experience.
   "We're real proud just to get here," said Orange Grove coach Belinda Benefield. "I have a lot of real young girls and we've never been here before. Plus, Sinton is a great team. Great teams force other teams into mistakes. That's what they did to us."
   Sinton 8, Orange Grove 0
   Sinton 004 013 0-8 12 1
   Orange Grove 000 000 0-0 0 2
   Amanda Stevens and Brittanie Bagnall. Tiffany Ortiz and Misty Kiefer. WP - Stevens (16-4). LP - Ortiz. Records - Sinton (22-6), Orange Grove (13-10).
   Highlights - Sinton: Ashley Yeats 1-3, 2 RBIs; Rene Bagnall 1-3, 2B, RBI; Amanda Stevens 3-4; Brittanie Bagnall 2-4, 2 runs, RBI; Tracey Garcia RBI.



Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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