Defensive gems not enough to snap GBHS losing streak
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News The Lady Dolphin softball team honor the country before a recent game.

The Lady Dolphins made some of their best plays of the season defensively, and in the end, it still wasn't enough to beat Escambia 5-3 in their season-finale Friday in Pensacola.

Escambia scored one in the first and three in the second off starter Mallory Mead. Deannette Zuniga came in and pitched the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits.

Gulf Breeze (9-16) had only three hits in the game - singles by Zuniga, Alison Milam and Anndrea Marsh in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

Marsh also made the play of the year defensively, leaping up the center field fence to take away a home run in the fifth inning. Kori Ewens also made an over the shoulder catch in left field.

Lady Dolphin JV 10,

Escambia 4

Kellie Krueger and Caroline Waghalter both had two hits, while Kasey Landfair hit her third over the fence home run this season as the JV closed out its season with a win over Escambia.

Photo courtesy of athletesfeatsphotography.com Natalie Alverson makes contact in a recent GBHS game.

Breezy Paulus pitched a complete game for the win.

Pine Forest 6,

Lady Dolphins 2

The Lady Eagles broke a 2-2 tie by capitalizing on four errors in the fourth inning to score four runs in a win over GBHS on Senior Night Thursday.

Gulf Breeze scored both of its runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Rosie Atkinson and an RBI single by Claire Koontz.

Alison Milam singled and scored the game's first run. On the mound, she struck out five and walked one, allowing only five hits. Of her 80 pitches, 67 were for strikes.

Adrian Culpepper, Anndrea Marsh, Catherine Lewis and Deannette Zuniga each had one hit in the loss.

Lady Dolphin JV 9,

Pine Forest 1

Morgan Bass had two hits, including a triple, and four RBIs as the GBHS JV rolled over Pine Forest.

Krueger doubled and scored three times, while Jessica Watson scored twice and drove in one, as did Landfair. Breezy Paulus struck out six and walked none in the win, allowing five hits.

Pace 9, Lady Dolphins 0

Kira Orr and Katy Neal combined on a no-hitter as the defending state champions blanked Gulf Breeze April 8.

The Lady Patriots scored six in the second inning, with the help of two GBHS errors. They added three more in the third.

Kori Ewens reached base on a dropped third strike in the fourth and Anndrea Marsh drew a walk in the sixth for the team's only baserunners. Rosie Atkinson had the best chance at a hit in the fifth inning, but a diving catch in center field kept the no-hitter alive.

GBHS batters struck out 14 times in the loss.

Pace JV 13,

GBHS 0 (five innings)

Gulf Breeze was held to two hits - singles by Sarah Thibodeaux and Waghalter - in a loss to Pace.

The Lady Dolphins took on PHS Monday (after the News' deadline) in the opening round of the District 1-4A Tournament. Gulf Breeze then faced Milton Tuesday, with a win there giving them their first playoff berth in six years.