Gators Strike it Rich

Samantha Rich wasn't satisfied with near perfection Tuesday night.
The junior pitcher from Wewahitchka knew there was work to be done after her third career no-hitter in a 15-0 run-rule win over Tallahassee Maclay in the Region 1-2A softball quarterfinals.
"Tonight wasn't that good of a pitching night," Rich said. "It's hard to get motivated when you're up that far."
As dominant as Rich was, striking out 13 including the first eight batters she faced, Wewahitchka's offense overshadowed its star pitcher.
The Lady Gators hit four home runs, bringing their season total to 38. Two were knocked out by first baseman Amanda Robbins. As a freshman, Robbins was Wewahitchka's clean-up batter, this year as a junior she's hitting from the No. 8 spot. Wewahitchka coach Coy Adkins worked with Robbins on a few mechanical issues leading up to Tuesday's game. Although he wouldn't reveal what they were, they worked.
Robbins went deep in her first at bat with a two-run shot to right field that put the Lady Gators up 4-0 in the second inning. She hit another two-run home run to right in the third that gave the Lady Gators a 10-0 lead. Robbins finished 3 for 3 with a game-high four RBIs.
"She's capable of doing that," Adkins said. "I think we got her on track. If we can get her back to her capabilities, we're in good shape."
Hilary Chapman, who was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, also hit a two-run home run in the second, two batters after Robbins. Summer Grice was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and concluded Wewahitchka's home run derby with a two-run homer to center field in the third.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Lady Gators exploded for five runs in the second and six in the third. They added two more in the fourth.
Rich had a perfect game through 3 2/3 innings. She threw 32 pitches in the first three innings and then slowed down in the fourth, throwing 34 pitches in the final two innings. Maclay (9-12) hitters barely touched Rich's pitches throughout the game. The only contact Maclay had was on two pop-fly outs, its only outs that weren't strikeouts.
In the fourth inning, Rich walked two consecutive Marauders, Ali Lewis and Mary Hughes, but stranded them by striking out Karl Newton for the third out of the inning.
"We just came out and set the tone early," Adkins said. "The key for us is if we score early. That's how we've hit the ball all year if we stay focused and disciplined at the plate. We can be shut down, but we're going to make it very difficult for the other team.
"I feel good about it. My No. 1 goal was a shutout. If we shut them out, they couldn't win. My second goal was to come out and get this one over with quickly and I wanted them to stay sharp."

Port St. Joe 7, Tallahassee North Florida Christian 2
Kayla Minger hit a pair of three-run home runs and extended her hitting streak to 10 for 10 in the playoffs as the Lady Tiger Sharks won a Region 1-2A quarterfinal.
Minger hit a three-run shot in the third inning to break open a 1-1 game and hit another in the fourth to finish off North Florida Christian.
Minger also won the game, allowing five hits while strikig out nine.
Torie Greer was 2 for 4 with two runs scored, Meredith Todd went 2 for 4 with a run scored and drove in the only run not plated by Minger and Heather Strange and Heather Brinkmeier each doubled.