Lady Dolphins roll in season opener
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Brrrr! Above, left: Aubrey Curington and Erin Powell try to stay warm, as do (right, from left): Kori Ewens, Deannette Zuniga and Lyndsey Wright Thursday against West Florida Tech.

The Gulf Breeze Lady Dolphin softball team opened the 2007 season last week with a 13-3, five inning win over PHS.

But the Lady Dolphins would lose two in as many days to West Florida Tech and Milton to end the week at 1-2.

Lady Dolphins 13, PHS 3

(five innings)

Natalie Newell, one of seven sophomores in the starting lineup (the other two were freshman), hit a three-run double in a six-run fourth to help Gulf Breeze pull away on Feb. 13.

The Lady Dolphins took a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Lyndsey Wright and Natalie Alverson had back-to-back run scoring hits in the inning. Kori Ewens drove in a run with a bases loaded walk, while Aubrey Curington drove in a run with a groundout.

Kara Brown, who went 2-for-2 with a triple and three runs scored, walked and scored in the third, while Erin Powell scored after reaching on an error.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News

A single, a walk, a fielder's choice, a wild pitch, a groundout and a throwing error allowed PHS to score three in the top of the fourth.

But from there, it was all Gulf Breeze. Powell, who scored three times, drew a bases loaded walk before Newell's runclearing double. Newell went 2-for-3 and scored once.

Alverson and Deannette Zuniga both scored twice for Gulf Breeze.

West Florida Tech 13,

Lady Dolphins 2

The Lady Jags scored twice in the fourth and fifth innings, one in the sixth and eight in the seventh to beat Gulf Breeze Thursday.

Rosie Atkinson doubled with one out in the first and scored on a wild pitch, while Alverson reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Claire Koontz.

The Lady Dolphins wouldn't have another base hit the rest of the game, as errors helped West Florida Tech scored their first five runs.

Gulf Breeze left runners on base in five of the seven innings.

Milton 3, Lady Dolphins 1

The Lady Panthers had to come from behind Friday at home to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Zuniga, who went 2-for-3, led off the game with a double. She scored on a fly out by Atkinson.

Milton tied the game in the bottom of the first before adding two in the fifth. The final seven Lady Dolphins went down in order, as Megan Stone and Zuniga both had two hits in the loss.

Pace JV 15, Lady Dolphins 3

The Lady Patriots blew open a close game with six in the third and eight in the fourth.

Mallory Mead and Sarah Munsch both had two hits, while Anna Schundelmier scored twice. Tristan Powers struck out five in four innings.

Pace ninth grade 10,

Lady Dolphins 5

GBHS took a 2-0 first inning lead, only for Pace to score 10 unanswered. Powers, Sara Thibodeaux and Michael Joffrion all had two hits in the loss.