Tuesday's softball roundup

Tuesday, April 10, 2012
by Jeff Greer

Erin Gabriel is a star pitcher for Poland Seminary in Ohio who struck out 34 batters in a 16-inning victory Monday against American Heritage.

On Tuesday, top-ranked Palm Beach Gardens faced Poland Seminary, but the exhausted Gabriel wasn't the starting pitcher.

Instead, Gators' starting ace Shelby Turnier was the star, with a seven-strikeout, one-hit performance in Gardens' 2-0 win. Gabriel played third base for Seminary for most of the night and pitched to just one batter, whom she struck out.

"We were a little disappointed as a team because they came all the way down here," Turnier said. "We wanted to face (Gabriel). We wanted to face the best, but we still played well as a group and got the win."

Sara Diskant's single to left field scored Minnie Cocuzza, and Jessie Lopes' sacrifice fly scored Diskant, which was more than enough insurance for Gardens (23-1), which is second in ESPN's national high school rankings.

Turnier (21-0) only allowed one base runner, needing 85 pitches to cruise through seven innings against a clearly overmatched Poland Seminary (6-1, No. 12 in ESPN rankings).

Turnier, a senior right-hander, won tournament MVP during the weekend at the competitive Kissimmee Klassic, where she didn't allow an earned run in 24 innings, winning all four of her starts.

Gardens lost its only game of the season March 23 to Jacksonville-Bishop Snyder, when Turnier didn't pitch. Since then, Gardens has outscored its opponents 83-6 in nine straight wins.

Turnier has been the most impressive of the group.

"It woke them up, especially Shelby," Gardens coach Randy Jackson said. "She's getting stronger, moving better."

Gabriel pitched to one batter, with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. With her team trailing 2-0, the Tennessee signee came in and struck out Gardens freshman Tiffany Lower.

Lower, the area's sixth-leading batter who has four home runs, was looking for Gabriel's riseball. She got it, and struck out on four pitches.

"I had no idea where it was going," the normally patient Lower said, laughing. "It was pretty scary. It went from level and it just kept tailing up."

NO. 3 PARK VISTA 7, NO. 2 AMERICAN HERITAGE 3

Makenzie Garcia had three hits with a double and two RBI as the Cobras defeated the Stallions (18-6) in Delray Beach. Corrie Boggess recorded a double and an RBI for American Heritage.

NO. 5 WEST BOCA RATON 5, SANTALUCES 1

Haley Gonzales had two hits, including a triple and a run scored as the Bulls beat the Chiefs (14-9) in Lantana. Jamie Yeary scored the run for Santaluces.

NO. 6 JUPITER 3, JENSEN BEACH 0

Kylie Hanson had two doubles and a solo home run to lead the Warriors (17-6) past the Falcons (9-10) in Jensen Beach.

NO. 8 KING'S ACADEMY 10, JOHN I. LEONARD 0 (5)

Aubree Murphy had a double, three RBI and two runs scored and also tallied eight strikeouts, leading the Lions (18-5) to the rout of the Lancers in West Palm Beach. Kim Valdes added a home run, two RBI and two runs.

BENJAMIN 10, POMPANO BEACH-HIGHLANDS CHRISTIAN 5

Kali Chaplin had two hits and three runs scored as the Buccaneers (9-10) toppled the Knights in Pompano.

GRANDVIEW PREP 2, ROYAL PALM BEACH 1

Geena Capitini was 2-for-3 to lead the Pride (16-5) past the Wildcats (9-14) in Royal Palm Beach. Jenna Bellach had two hits, including a double, for Royal Palm Beach.

LAKE WORTH CHRISTIAN 7, FORT LAUDERDALE-PINE CREST 6

Becca Duane had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored and McKenzie Morrell added three hits including a two-run triple, to help the Defenders (11-9) edge the Panthers in Boynton Beach.

WELLINGTON CHRISTIAN 11, MIRAMAR-SOMERSET CENTRAL 1

Cali Gumpel had two hits, including a two-run homer, and Jalysa Semenuk had 12 strikeouts as the Eagles (12-4) routed the Warriors in Wellington.

BOCA RATON 13, ATLANTIC 0 (5)

Pepper Butler had three hits, including a double, three RBI and two runs scored, as the Bobcats (15-7) routed the Eagles (4-8) late Monday in Delray Beach.