Lady Dolphin softball loses 8-2 to Navarre
GBHS winless against rivals since 2000
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo courtesy of athletesfeatsphotography.com Rosie Atkinson gets set to put a tag on a Clinton, Miss. basestealer last week.

The Lady Dolphin softball team rallied from two deficits to win two games early last week, but a two-run triple and a grand slam were too much to overcome in an 8-2 loss to Navarre.

The Lady Raiders, who are unbeaten in district play and haven't lost to Gulf Breeze since 2000, took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a dropped fly ball and a bloop single. Deannette Zuniga walked in the bottom of the first and after Alison Milam single, scored on a two-run single by Natalie Alverson.

It was one of only four hits in the game for Gulf Breeze.

The Lady Raiders tacked on two more with two outs in the third. A double and a throwing error led to a two-run triple by Brittany Naker.

Navarre then beat out a pair of bunt singles before Bri Risner hit a grand slam that made it 7-2. A pair of Gulf Breeze errors led to Navarre's final runs in the fifth.

Alverson had two of GBHS' four hits, while Rosie Atkinson (single in fourth) and Catherine Lewis (single in fifth) had the other two.

Photo courtesy of athletesfeatsphotography.com Kori Ewens makes a catch in right field last week against Clinton.

The loss was compounded by an injury to Milam, who injured her ankle when a Navarre base stealer slide into her in the seventh inning. Milam, playing shortstop, still made the tag on the runner.

Milam struck out two in the first four innings, while Zuniga fanned three in the final three.

Lady Dolphins 11,

Clinton, Miss. 6

Gulf Breeze trailed 5-0 and 6-3 in the first three innings before exploding for eight in the sixth March 19 against the Clinton Arrows.

Clinton, who have two losses to defending Mississippi state champions in their 13-4 record, scored on a two-run single in the first and a two-run two-out double as part of a four-run second.

Gulf Breeze pulled within 5- 3 with three in the bottom of the second. Lyndsey Wright, playing in her first game in a few weeks due to a back injury, singled with one out.

Kori Ewens and Mallory Mead followed with singles to load the bases for Anna Schundelmier, who doubled to score two runs. Schundelmier scored on a single by Zuniga.

Eight different Lady Dolphins scored in the decisive sixth inning. Claire Koontz led off the inning by reaching on an error. Wright and Ewens both singled before Lewis drew a bases loaded walk to scored Koontz.

Schundelmier followed with a two-run single before Zuniga reached on a fielder's choice to score another run. Milam reached on an error, allowing another run to score by Alverson drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Atkinson then singled before Alverson scored on a wild pitch.

Milam, Wright, Ewens and Schundelmier all had two hits in the win. Zuniga, who pitched the final four innings to get the win in relief of Mead, went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.

Lady Dolphins 8,

Washington 4

Milam got the win in relief of Zuniga and went 3-for-4 at the plate as Gulf Breeze rallied from a 4-0, second inning deficit to win at Washington March 18.

Former GBSA softball player Maggie Swinford led off the first with a solo home run. The Lady Cats scored three in the first and one in the second for a 4-0 lead.

But Gulf Breeze would take back the lead, and hold it, with a six run third. Charlsie Langley led off with a single. Zuniga then beat out an infield single before Milam doubled to score Langley.

A bunt by Koontz would plate two runs. Atkinson walked and Alverson reached on a fielder's choice before Anndrea Marsh plated a run by hitting into a fielder's choice. Ginny Coady broke the 4-4 tie with a two-run, two-out single.

Gulf Breeze tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Zuniga reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Milam in the sixth before Atkinson walked in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch.

Alverson went 2-for-4 and scored once, while Zuniga and Atkinson both scored twice. Milam struck out seven over the final 4 1/3 innings.

Navarre JV 7,

Lady Dolphins 6

A dropped fly ball was the difference as Navarre edged Gulf Breeze Thursday.

Anndrea Marsh went 2-for-3 and scored twice, while Mallory Mead struck out 10, but walked 10, in the loss. Navarre had only three hits off Mead.

Lady Dolphin JV 16, Washington 2 (five innings)

Culpepper came one out away from a no-hitter, striking out eight and scoring two runs in a win over Washington.

Kasey Landfair went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Morgan Bass had two hits, an RBI and three runs scored. Jessica Watson scored three times, while Sam Diaz went 2-for-2 with a run scored and three RBIs. Lady Dolphin ninth grade 17,

Navarre 2

Kellie Krueger, Bass and Coral Molina all had two hits in a rout of Navarre.

Katherine Landry scored three times, while Ashley Scott, Culpepper and Caroline Waghalter all scored twice. Breezy Paulus struck out three and allowed only five hits in the win.