Saturday, May 19, 2012

Lady Jackets Drop Game To Mount Dora, February 22, 2002



By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 22, 2002

MOUNT DORA - The Lady Jackets softball team traveled to Mount Dora for a game for the first time under new head coach Tom Molik. Leesburg came out on the short end of a 6-4 Lady Hurricanes win. Molik, who grew up playing fastpitch softball in Ohio and became a math teacher at Lee Opportunity Center in Leesburg in January, was named the team's new coach recently. 

The Lady Hurricanes Kristin Smith went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI's while Brooke Zingles and Tammy Phelps both went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI's.

Moutn Dora improved its record to 1-1 on the season. 

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Russ And Palacio Named Class 5A All-State, June 11, 1999

By Gerald Lacey

Staff Writer 

Carver Heights Quarterback Club 

June 11, 1999

 

LEESBURG  - Melanie Russ and Faith Palacio were named to the first team Thursday as the Florida Sports Writers Association released its Class 5A and 6A All-State softball teams. 

Russ is a senior and made the Honorable Mention Team as a Catcher. Palacio is also made the Honorable Mention Team as a Infielder. Leesburg only placed two players on the All-State Team. Below is the rest of the team.

 

Class 5A

 

FIRST TEAM

Catcher -- Dorothy Donaldson, Lakeland, So
Infielders -- Christina Cheney, Tallahasee Leon, Jr.; Jennifer Gillis, Plant, Sr.; Shannon McKeon, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr.; Priscilla Graham, Naples, So.
Outfielders -- Jessie Braggins, Plant, So.; Lisa Petransky, Countryside, So.; Katie Weigle, Naples, Jr.
Utility -- Jessi Anucinski, Naples, Sr.
Designated hitter -- Jacquie Rothey, Boca Ciega, Jr. 

SECOND TEAM

Catcher -- Ashley Ankney, Ocala Vanguard, Sr
Infielders -- Melissa Bass, Leon, Jr.; Jamie Hagin, Ocala Forest, So.; Valerie Morgan, Plant, Jr.; Amiee Reilly, Naples, So.
Outfielders -- Lana Harris, Satellite, Sr.; Vanessa O'Campo, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.; Tiffany Stewart, Sickles, Fr.
Utility -- Mandy Schuerman, East Bay, So.
Designated hitter -- Ashley Walker, Leon, Jr. 

THIRD TEAM

Catcher -- Meredith Miley, St. Augustine Nease, Jr
Infielders -- Jen Binkley, Nease, Jr.; Amy Bellisari, Boca Raton, Jr.; Rebecca Glanna, Vanguard, Sr.; Sara Magruder, Leesburg, Sr.
Outfielders -- Holly Groves, Seminole, Sr.; Nina Licciardelle, Belleview, Sr.
Utility -- Laura Gillette, St. Thomas Aquinas, So.
Designated hitter -- Lawona Davis, Port St. Lucie Centennial, Fr. (Note: Centennial is a 4A school; Davis was mistakenly omitted from the 4A team released Wednesday). 

HONORABLE MENTION

Catchers -- Lindsay Hester, Belleview, Sr.; Courtney Lewellen, Seminole, Sr.; Melanie Russ, Leesburg, Sr 

Infielders -- Rebekah Bunting, Deltona, Sr.; Kim Casey, Hollywood South Broward, Sr.; Tepora Hess, Satellite, Sr.; Lindsey Hill, Leon, Jr.; Melanie Johnson, Leon, So.; Jennifeer Lee, Titusville, Jr.; Lisa Lofton, First Coast, Sr.; Rachel Mixon, South Lake, Sr.; Faith Palacio, Leesburg, Sr.; Mylin Prieto, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr.; Dwan Riggins, Tallahassee Godby, Sr.; Valerie Simmons, Nease, Sr.; Danielle Weaver, Nease, Fr.; Becky Williams, Pensacola Pine Forest, Sr. 

Outfielder -- Nika Price, Nease, Jr.
Utility -- Rachel Rosen Baum, Titusville, So.; Sarah Conness, Lakeland Jenkins, Jr., Courtney Golson, Pensacola Washington, So.
Designated hitter -- Mandy Bassett, Jenkins, Sr. 

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Monday, May 7, 2012

Ashley Taylor: Bethune-Cookman Softball Rocks S.C. State in First Road Conference Games, April 4, 2009




Call Softball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - In the first road trip of the 2009 softball season, Bethune-Cookman came away with two big wins, sweeping South Carolina State in both games of the series. In the first game of Saturday, the Wildcats faced a tough defensive game throughout, put in a strong finish to defeat the Lady Bulldogs 4-1 in extra innings. In Game Two, B-CU completely shut down SCSU and played well offensively throughout, including a huge fourth inning, to shutout the Lady Bulldogs 8-0.

Game One
Facing their first conference road game of the season, the Wildcats stood their ground defensively throughout the first game. The Lady Bulldogs of S.C. State put the first run on the board, but that is where the offense would end for the Lady Bulldogs as B-CU went on to hold them scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing three hits that inning, but none in the rest of regulation. 

The Wildcats got on the board themselves in the top of the third inning, scoring on a single by Simone Ceasar that batted in Ashley Taylor (Leesburg High School, Leesburg Florida)  from Third Base. The run tied the score at 1-1, where it would remain through the end of regulation, forcing extra innings. In the eighth inning, the Wildcats laid it on thick, creating a major challenge for SCSU. B-CU put four scores on the board in the extra inning to secure the victory. The first scores of the eighth, Ashley Taylor scored again as Ashton Hinds reached base and scored on an SCSU error to take the lead. 

B-CU extended their lead as the next two batters reached base, and then Allison Garcia hit a double to Center Field which brought Simone Ceasar and Cesley Tafoya across Home Plate. The Wildcats finished the top of the eighth leading the Lady Bulldogs 5-1.

Allison Garcia (.321) led the Wildcats with two hits and two RBI, while Simone Ceasar (.298) and Ashley Taylor (.286) both batted well, collecting two hits apiece. 

Allison Garcia (8-18) also led the Wildcats on the mound, starting her 20th consecutive game at Pitcher for B-CU. Garcia collected eight strikeouts with only one Earned Run, making her season ERA 3.86.

Game Two
The second game of the afternoon in Orangeburg turned out to be a rout in favor of the Wildcats who turned a well-played defensive game into a win with a complementary offensive attack. Bethune-Cookman held SCSU to only one hit in the game while reeling off eight of their own, including a huge five-hit fourth inning.

The Wildcats got started early, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. B-CU's first run scored as Ashton Hinds stole second then crossed Home Plate on a Simone Ceasar to left field. Ceasar would continue her impact on the inning, stealing Home to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

After being held scoreless for two innings, B-CU went on the offensive, putting four runs on the lead. Ashton Hinds got it started, hitting to left field and pushing in Tameika Jonas and Brittani Austin. Later Hinds scored one of her own as she advanced Home on a throw from Third Base. Next, an Allison Garcia double hit Simone Ceasar in from Third. To wrap up the scoring for B-CU, Sabrina Ferguson batted in Cesley Tafoya on a single, to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats put one more on the board in the top of the sixth, but put three runners on base. The final score of the game came as Allison Garcia singled, batting in the run by Cesley Tafoya to secure the win at 8-0.

Bethune-Cookman played extremely well on both sides of the ball, with several players logging several hits each. Simone Ceasar (.298) got three hits in four at-bats, while scoring two runs of her own. Allison Garcia (.321) had two hits and two RBI, while Sabrina Ferguson (.243) had two hits and an RBI. Tameika Jonas .186) and Ashley Taylor (.286) each had two hits apiece. 

Chastity Sanders (3-6) started and finished her first game since late February, earning three strikeouts with no Earned Runs. Her season ERA is currently 4.34. 

The Wildcats (11-27, 4-1 MEAC) continue their road trip tomorrow afternoon as they finish out the series with South Carolina State before returning home to face North Florida next Wednesday. Sunday's game with SCSU is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman University 

Jackets In College: Ashley Taylor Bethune Cookman University



Before Bethune-Cookman: Taylor was 2nd Team Mid-Florida All-Conference in JuCo...1st Team NFCA All-South Region, 1st Team NFCA All-American 

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Eastside's Defense Sinks Leesburg, March 10, 2001



March 10, 2001|By Joe Williams of The Sentinel Staff

LEESBURG - Just how did Leesburg's night go in Friday's Class 4A, District 2 softball game against Gainesville Eastside?

Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth in the game at the Carver Middle School softball field, Leesburg had the bases loaded with one out when No. 9 hitter Jamie Clemons ripped a line drive to left field.

Instead of the ball falling in for extra bases, Rams right fielder Carol Mickey made the catch and threw to first for a double play.


End of inning, end of threat and, for all practical purposes, end of game.

"We played some pretty solid defense,'' Eastside Coach Bob Heron said following his team's 7-3 victory. "That DP that got us out of the inning was pretty big. For us to get a win on the road in a district game is pretty big.''

Leesburg (3-6, 1-4) had other chances to get into the game, which was played in a cold, intermittent drizzle, but those also ended with good defensive plays by Eastside (4-5, 1-2) or lack of key hits by Leesburg.

"Leaving baserunners on killed us,'' Leesburg Coach Tracey Hanson said. "There were a couple of times when we got two runners on with only one out in an inning and we couldn't score. I don't know how many base runners we left on.''
  

Leesburg left 10 runners on base, including six who were in scoring position.

Eastside ended an earlier Leesburg threat in the fourth inning on a nice double-play turned by second baseman Jennifer Mansolo and shortstop Hartley Carlson.

Leesburg did get some nice performances, including a three-for-four effort at the plate from Toni Vasquez, who also pitched well in relief, getting eight Eastside batters out in a row during a stretch from the final out of the fourth inning through the first out in the seventh.

As a heavy rain fell in the first inning, the Rams took a 1-0 lead on two-out hits from No. 3 hitter Brandi Blanton, who stole second, before a double by clean-up hitter Ashley Lambert scored Blanton.

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Leesburg, though, took its only lead of the game in the bottom half of the first when Eastside pitcher Amy Silverman struggled with her control on the wet ball. Silverman walked Leesburg's first three batters Leslie Mills, Morgan Wainscott and Ericka Vasquez before Shana Granger singled to left field to score Mills and Wainscott later scored on an error on a ball hit by Vasquez.

However, the lead was short-lived as Arica Alston, a pregame replacement at first base after scheduled starter April Moore hurt her knee during pregame warmups, delivered a two-run triple for the Rams in the top of the second inning.

Alston's triple came after Caroline Carpenter and Carlson opened the inning with singles.

What could have been an even bigger inning for the Rams ended when Alston was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a passed ball, Amy Silverman was thrown out an a bunt attempt and Melissa Silverman struck out.


Leesburg Gets Power From Unlikely Source, March 28, 2001


Morgan Wainscott, Hitting .222, Boosted Her Average And Her Team In A 14-4 Win.

March 28, 2001|By Herky Cush of The Sentinel Staff
 
LEESBURG -- Morgan Wainscott put a hurting on Umatilla with both her arm and her bat Tuesday night as Leesburg defeated the Bulldogs 14-4 in five innings.

Wainscott, who went into the game hitting .222, delivered three hits, including a double and triple.

"I am a slap hitter,'' Wainscott said. "Tonight I was looking to put the ball in the gap.''

Wainscott authored a single and triple in the Yellow Jackets 11-run third that broke the gameopen. Her battery mate, Shana Granger, also had three hits on the night and contributed a double and single in the third-inning surge.

"We had a little talk before the game,'' Leesburg Coach Tracey Hanson said. "I told them to be a little more aggressive at the plate.

"We did a nice job of getting things started with the bunt and then started to hit.''

A walk opened the inning for Leesburg (6-10) and the next two batters reached on errors. Then the floodgates broke open as Wainscott singled and Ericka Vasquez reached on a fielder's choice when Umatilla committed its third error of the inning. Granger followed with a two-run double and then came singles by Lindsey Carter and Tosha Moyer. Later in the inning another string of five hits was started by the ninth batter in the order, Jamie Clemons. Leslie Mills reached on a single, Wainscott tripled, Vasquez singled and Granger reached on an infield single. The hit by Clemons drove in a pair of runs.

The Yellow Jackets collected nine hits in the inning.

Mills' two-run single in the fourth helped the Yellow Jackets push their advantage to 10 runs.

"We are low on confidence,'' Umatilla Coach Stacy Ciccolo said. "Often when we make one error it really hurts us. We have to be careful not to make that first mistake.''

The Bulldogs (8-5) missed out on a golden chance in the third inning when they managed a single, walk and three more singles but could manage only one run. Kaite Harder singled to open the inning and Kelli Richards walked. Sarah Wilson singled to left but Harder was caught at the plate trying to score.Carter made the throw to the plate to get the out.Kaitlin Dillard singled to left to score Richards. Morgan Fuqua singled to load the bases with one out but the Bulldogs could not get the clutch hit.

"That was a big chance for us,'' Ciccolo said. "Bases loaded and only one out. We needed to get a hit in that situation.''

In the fourth the Bulldogs scored three times on infield singles by Richards and Dillard and a double by Wilson. Two Leesburg errors also helped the Bulldog cause.

Umatilla started the game strong enough, making six excellent plays in the field behind Morgan Fuqua in the first two innings. But the three errors early in the third inning proved to be the opening that Leesburg needed to break things open.

Wainscott and Granger each had three hits on the night while Mills had two hits and knocked in four runs. Moyer also had a pair of hits.

Wilson and Dillard each had two hits for the Bulldogs.



Saturday, April 14, 2012

Emerson signs with Georgia Southwestern State University, April 14, 2012

Pictured with Emerson are her parents Margaret and Jeff Emerson.


By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
April 14, 2012

LEESBURG - Leesburg High School standout Senior Morgan Emerson has signed a national letter of intent to play softball at Georgia Southwestern State University during a signing ceremony Wednesday. Emerson is a pitcher that also plays first and third base for the Lady Jackets. Her career path from Yellow Jacket to Hurricane began when she started playing softball at age 5.

Lady Canes Field
Georgia Southwestern State University is located in Americus Georgia and is a four year unit of the University System of Georgia. The Lady Hurricanes compete in the Peach Belt Conference in NCAA Division II.


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