Venice Halts Eagles' Run

PLANT CITY - Brilliant junior right-hander Stephanie Sullivan and Venice High School's No. 3 and 4 hitters spoiled George Jenkins' first visit to the Class 5A State Softall Tournament Wednesday night. Sullivan pitched her 14th shutout of the season and narrowly missed a perfect game as the Indians blanked Jenkins, 7-0, in Plant City Stadium. Venice (31-0), plays in the 5A state finals tonight against Bartram Trail at 7 p.m. Jenkins ended its season at 24-5.

"She's a very good pitcher and their No. 3-4 hitters did a good job," Jenkins coach Mike Powell said. "Except for that, it could have been pretty even."

Sullivan, who has four no-hitters and a perfect game already, retired the side in order in the first six innings.

Jenkins' senior Lindsey Bassett led off the seventh with a single before Sullivan got the next three batters to preserve the shutout. She struck out 14.

"I just wanted us to get through this one so we can play for a state championship," Sullivan said.

"Stephanie was Stephanie," said Venice coach Larry Sandburg.

It was the first state tourney appearance for both Jenkins and Venice.

Shortstop Maureen Sandidge went 3-for-4, including a two-run homer in the seventh, her fourth of the year. She also singled in the Indians' first run in the third inning. Cleanup batter Chelsea Zgrabik, a sophomore power hitter who follows Sandidge in the lineup, blasted a two-run homer in the third inning, her 14th of the year. She also singled in the seventh.

Thus the two accounted for five of their team's seven hits off Jenkins junior Brittaney Alderman and had a hand in six of the seven runs.

"I was as nervous as I've ever been," said Sandidge.

Alderman had flashes of brilliance of her own, striking out 13 batters with three walks. She allowed only two hitters over the first five innings.

"I thought Brittaney pitched fine," Powell said. "We made a mistake in the field, and we had a couple of pitching mistakes."

The game gave every indication of becoming a pitching duel based on the first two innings.

Alderman struck out four in the two frames. She walked two, but her strikeouts bailed her out of trouble.

Sullivan, 20-0, fanned five of the first six batters.

In the third, Alderman struck out the first two batters, then disaster struck. Kayla Ellingsen hit a grounder to second which was mishandled for an error. She went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Sandidge's single up the middle.

Alderman retired the side in the fourth and fifth.

Venice scored twice in the sixth on a leadoff single by Sandidge, a walk, a sacrifice bunt by Sullivan, a grounder to short and then an RBI single by Amanda Harvey.

With one out in the seventh, Niki Clark singled to left. With two out, Sandidge homered to right field, the ball barely clearing the fence.

Jenkins had been in the regional finals three of the last four years, finally making the state tournament.

"We have a lot of good kids coming back," Powell said. "I think next year will be good."

Venice 003 002 2 - 7 7 0

George Jenkins 000 000 0 - 0 1 1

Sullivan (W, 20-0) and Zgrabik; B. Alderman (L, 16-4) and White.

Leading Batters: Venice; Sandidge 3-4 HR 3R 3RBI, Zrabik 2-3 HR 2 R 2 RBI. Jenkins: Bassett 1-3.

Records: Venice 31-0, Jenkins 24-5.