By Kyle LoJacono
The Pasco softball team entered the Class 4A-District 7 tournament as the No. 1 seed, but on a two-game losing streak. However, the Pirates had been playing without a key player — Jordan Lane.
Lane, who plays third base and bats cleanup for Pasco, injured her ankle sliding back into first base a few weeks ago against Land O’ Lakes. She played in her first game in two weeks in the championship game, where she smacked a base-clearing double in second inning to help Pasco defeat Mitchell 8-0 for the title.
“We needed her and she got that big hit for us,” said second-year Pasco coach Lisa Herndon. “Vanessa Mills filled in batting fourth for us while Jordan was out and she did a good job, but Jordan is a little more of a power threat. She came through with a big double. To get three RBI when she’s not 100 percent says a lot about her.”
Lane is second on the team with four home runs, behind only senior pitcher Courtney Brandt’s five round trippers. Brandt went 3-for-3 at the plate in the finals, but was even bigger on the mound.
Brandt (13-4) struck out 15 Mitchell batters and allowed only two hits in the complete game win.
“What was also big is she had no walks,” Herndon said. “She kept them off the bases all night and they can’t score if they aren’t getting on base. She really shut them down and didn’t let their good lineup come back.”
The Pirates defeated Wesley Chapel 18-3 in the district quarterfinals, and then defeated Ridgewood 5-0 in the semis.
Mitchell (18-7) beat Pasco (24-6) for the district championship last year. The win this season allows the Pirates to host their 4A regional tournament quarterfinals contest against Lecanto on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m.
