The Bombers were among four clubs to advance past last week's ASA Gold Sector tourney.
By LAURA LEE
Published June 22, 2004
Third place wasn't good enough for the Clearwater Bombers earlier this month. But this past weekend, being second runnerup suited the Bombers just fine.
The Bombers earned a trip to the Amateur Softball Association Gold National Championship in last weekend's ASA Gold Sector tournament at Ed Radice Complex.
The tournament produced four qualifiers that will compete in nationals. Along with the Bombers, who finished 4-2 for the tournament, the Georgia Elite, the Nashville Nighthawks and the West Palm Beach Lady Gators rounded out the top four. The championship is August 9-15 in Marietta, Ga.
The tournament was hosted by the Florida Suncoast Metro ASA, which includes Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties. Twenty-one teams competed and Georgia Elite defeated the Nashville Nighthawks 4-1 for first place.
"They played very well," Clearwater coach Chuck Poetter said. "But there were a couple of times we played uncharacteristicly sloppy."
Poetter referred to the Bombers' first loss of the tournament. They dropped a 2-0 decision to the Nighthawks. Despite 14 strikeouts by Dani Hofer, the Nighthawks scored two runs on one bad throw. But the Bombers came back in the next game to clinch a berth. They posted a 2-1-comeback victory over the Houston Power.
The rest of the Bombers' season is all about college exposure. They'll go back to Colorado, where they finished fifth last year and then they'll finish the year competing against 63 teams for national title.
The Bombers' success came even though they had to scramble at shortstop. Tara Toscano (Palm Harbor University) was out sick and Caitlin Mahoney, a Lake Mary graduate who is off to Michigan State, was sidelined with a twisted knee.
Rachelle Boucher (East Lake), who usually plays catcher, filled in and Samantha Cronk (Land O'Lakes) played everywhere for the Bombers. Pitchers Hofer and Ryan Rogge (Orange Park) had productive tournaments and Ashley Rowe (Gaither) drove in most of the team's runs, Poetter said.
This tournament was the Bombers' last chance to qualify for nationals. They missed out on their first opportunity in Auburndale the first week of June, when they took third place in a tournament.
Last year's team won the PONY Nationals and this summer the team moved up to the ASA's gold division, widely considered the elite travel softball division.
Now they'll get to compete for another national championship. But with the start of the school year being the first week in August, Poetter said he expects he'll be missing several players who have to choose school over softball.
"It's a difficult decision to make," Poetter said. "I told them there are no hard feelings and no ramifications. Your school is your livelihood."
One player has already told him she can't play, but the three players who are incoming college freshman have committed to being there and he thinks he'll have a squad that will be competitive.
"I have no expectations," Poetter said. "We're going out there with the intent to do well and play well and get the kids exposure. The kids like to play up - test themselves."
- Club softball updates will run weekly in the summer. Coaches with news should call Times staff writer Laura Lee at 892-2251 or send e-mail to llee@sptimes.com
