Players from Pasco, Hillsborough lead Havoc
By Steve Lee
Sports Editor
LAND O’ LAKES — The Florida Havoc, a 12-and-under fast-pitch softball team, picked an opportunistic time for its first tournament victory.
The team of all-stars from Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties captured first place in the Gold Division of the National Softball Association’s Pitch For The Cure at Ed Radice Park in Tampa. Proceeds benefited the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The Havoc, which includes ballplayers from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa and Wesley Chapel, has been a runner-up in three other tourneys this year. That includes posting a 2-1 record and making it to the championship game of the NSA Fall State Warmup series on Dec. 6 in Sarasota.
“They really turned it on and did a great job,” said Maria Brockway, the team’s statistician and scorekeeper. “They played together as a team. They didn’t get down and just kept going.”
The Havoc made it a clean sweep in the Pitch For The Cure tourney by posting a 5-0 record and beating the St. Pete Fury 6-4 in the final. Along the way, the team of all-star players from local Little Leagues outscored the opposition by an impressive 31-12 margin.
The Havoc also displayed some power and speed when three players sent softballs deep into the outfield and legged out inside-the-park home runs. Megan Lane and Lindsey White rounded the bases with solo shots during games before the championship round. Kendall Tipton blasted a two-run homer in an earlier game as well.
On the mound, White and Tipton turned in stellar pitching performances. White earned a pair of complete-game victories, scattering 22 hits and striking out 23 of the 94 batters she faced. Tipton fanned seven and allowed just one hit while pitching to 13 batters.
The defense for the Havoc was solid throughout the series with Maddy Scheerhorn earning a most valuable player award for two fine catches in right field, as well as for her batting.
Other MVPs were: Lane (game-winning RBIs), Tipton (pitching), White (home run, pitching) and Cassidy Brockway (batting, fielding).
Florida Havoc (5-0)
National Softball Association’s Pitch for The Cure Tournament
Opponent Result
- Christina Flames W 4-3
- Lady Phantoms W 11-0
- South Tampa Spartans W 6-2
- Tampa Mustangs W 4-3
- St. Pete Fury W 6-4
