Lady Dolphin softball team stays sharp with win over JV
Varsity's seniors to be honored before tonight's game with Woodham
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Cori Linville pitches in a recent Lady Dolphin softball game.

A week without a game during the season could be a blessing for some, but not for the Lady Dolphin softball team.

Gulf Breeze was originally scheduled to play a weeklong tournament at West Florida Tech, but the tournament fell through, leaving the Lady Dolphins, who had committed 25 errors in their last three games, without any games.

To stay sharp, the Lady Dolphins took on the junior varsity squad in a friendly scrimmage Thursday, with the varsity winning 8-1.

With several Gulf Breeze pitchers sitting out with nagging injuries, head coach Rob Simon had to shuffle the lineups a little bit. Cori Linville, one of the only two seniors on the varsity team, pitched for the JV, with varsity catcher Natalie Newell catching for her.

Varsity shortstop Deannette Zuniga moved to pitcher, with Rosie Atkinson moving from second to short, Aubrey Curington moved from left field to second base, while Jessica Bibeau played in left. Lyndsey Wright played in right, with Natalie Alverson (center field) and Megan Stone (first base) left as the only regulars playing their normal positions.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Head coach Rob Simon protests a call in a recent game.

Linville and Zuniga both pitched four innings before switching sides to throw the final three innings.

Wright reached on a bunt single in the bottom of the first and scored on an error, while Zuniga also reached on a bunt single and scored on a groundout by Curington.

Zuniga scored twice for the varsity team.

The JV team scored what would be their lone run in the top of the third. Sam Diaz drew a leadoff walk and after Jessica Watson was hit by a pitch and Newell singled, Diaz scored when Anndrea Marsh hit into a fielder's choice. Marsh had one hit for the JV, while Newell was the lone multi hitter for the JV team with a single and a double.

Zuniga reached on an error and scored in the bottom of the third to make it 3-1 varsity. Atkinson tripled to lead off the fifth inning and scored on a Bibeau groundout.

Kori Ewens and Erin Powell hit RBI singles as part of the varsity's four run sixth inning. Stone also singled and scored in the inning.

Maggie Mitchell had a base hit for the JV team.

Lady Dolphin JV 13,

Milton 3 (five innings)

Zuniga, a freshman, moved down to JV for her GBHS pitching debut, throwing a four hitter, while picking up two herself on offense, to lead the Lady Dolphins over Milton March 27.

Tristan Powers went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Zuniga and Catherine Horn both had two hits and scored twice, while Tess Waggoner and Jessica Watson both scored twice.

Pace JV 22,

Lady Dolphins 6

(six innings)

The Lady Patriots scored nine unanswered runs in the second and third innings and tacked on seven more in the sixth to beat Gulf Breeze March 26.

Powers was the lone multihitter for the Lady Dolphins, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Kori Ewens, another freshman varsity player 'playing down,' doubled and scored, as did Mallory Mead. Anna Schundelmier singled and scored, while Horn hit a two-run triple.

The Lady Dolphins will host Woodham tonight at 6 p.m., as seniors Linville and Bibeau will be honored prior to game time.

Gulf Breeze will then host Fort Walton Beach Monday at 6 p.m., with the JV game kicking off the action at 4 p.m.