Youth Sports Report:

South Tampa headed to major softball state tournament

Posted Jul 19, 2010 by Larry Bugg

Updated Jul 19, 2010 at 10:47 AM

CRYSTAL RIVER The West Pasco Major Softball Little League All Stars won the game but South Tampa’s girls won the big prize Sunday.

West Pasco won the game 2-1 in eight innings, but South Tampa won the Little League Section 7 title at Harley Levins Field. Both teams had 2-1 marks, tied for first, but South Tampa allowed fewer runs and the Hillsborough County team advanced to the state tournament in Fort Myers next weekend.

West Pasco’s Makenzie Goluba led off the eighth with a single. She advanced on a fielder’s choice and scored on Alicia Boloyan’s grounder.
Mackenzie Ward was the winning pitcher and Goluba took the pitching loss. Goluba allowed four hits. West Pasco had six hits.

West Tampa’s Natalia Rivera went 8-for-12 in the tournament to lead South Tampa, leaving their manager was all smiles as his team took home the banner.

“(Winning the sectional) feels great,’’ said South Tampa manager Bill Schifino. “We faced a wonderful pitcher (Goluba). Our girls put a lot of runs on the board in the first two games. We took care of business and I can’t wait for next week down in Fort Myers. Our pitchers did well. In this tournament, we gave up a total of seven runs. We scored over 25 runs.”

Victory against the team that will represent the section at the state tournament wasn’t much consolation for West Pasco manager Kurt Goluba, but he remained proud of what his team had accomplished.

“It’s bittersweet,’’ Goluba said. “We came back after a disappointing loss. There were no errors in the field. I’m proud of the girls. I’m sure I have a few more gray hairs. She (Goluba, his daughter) puts in the time. She makes her Daddy proud.”