Youth Sports Report:

Junior Softball: South Tampa advances to World Series semifinals

Posted Aug 20, 2009 by Nick Murray

Updated Aug 21, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Sarah Miller and Rachel Hampton combined on a four-hit shutout as South Tampa moved into the semifinals of the Little League Junior Softball World Series in Kirkland, Wash. with a 3-0 win against La Grange, Texas.

South Tampa completed pool play 3-1, tied with La Grange and Maunabo, Puerto Rico, and advanced as the second-placed team on runs conceded. Maunabo advanced as group winner.

Miller struck out seven, allowing a pair of hits in four innings, while Hampton also allowed a pair of hits in her three innings of work.

Alexis Jackson came through with the key hit for South Tampa, driving in Sabrina Ciuzio from first after a walk in the fourth inning with a double.

“She’s a big game kid,” South Tampa manager Ed Sutton said of Jackson. “I think the more pressure there is, the more she steps it up. Some people don’t do well in that environment, some do, and Alexis absolutely does.”

South Tampa tacked on another pair of runs in the fifth inning, and also turned a pair of double plays defensively to help maintain the shutout.

“It was a very good team effort,” Sutton said. “We had sac bunts laid down when we needed them, we had great defensive plays when we needed them, and it all had to come together to make it work, because we did play a very good team today, and it was really fun to watch.”

South Tampa will face Elyria East from Ohio in Friday’s semifinal at 7:45 p.m. EST.