Despite dreary weather, Pirates softball blows past FPC

Matanzas led 9-0 after the second inning.

By Ray Boone
| 10:50 p.m. March 19, 2019

Matanzas' Ellie Hansen steps up to the plate for an at-bat. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Amanda Larrison throws a pitch against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Leah Scott throws a pitch against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Teagan Clayton swings at a pitch against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

Matanzas' Alyssa Payne gets ready to scoop up a ball against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone

The Pirates' Lexie Hawkins drops her bat as she runs toward first base. Photo by Ray Boone

Matanzas coach Sabrina Manhart talks with Alyssa Payne at third base. Photo by Ray Boone

The Pirates' Grace Ledrich throws a pitch against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The Pirates jumped out to an early lead after scoring 9 runs in the second inning against rival Flagler Palm Coast on the night of Tuesday, March 19, at FPC High School.

The undefeated Pirates felt confident. A run-rule, and quick ending, to a game plagued by dreadful weather was in sight.

But the Bulldogs, who have only won one game so far this season, scored six runs in the fourth inning to cut Matanzas’ lead to 11-6.

“I’m hoping that my girls didn’t get a little to big for their britches,” Matanzas head coach Sabrina Manhart said, “because we know that it’s always going to be a fight against FPC.”

Both teams battled the elements on Tuesday night.

The temperature was below 60 degrees, there was a brisk win and a chilling rain fell from the dark sky.

“We like to think that the weather will never affect us,” said Manhart, whose team played its third rainy game this season. “We’re not scared of the elements by any means.”

With the Pirates up 16-6, the game was called in the sixth inning after the officials declared the conditions at home plate “unsafe.”

The Pirates were led by Alexia Moy, who went 1-for-3 with 4 RBI. Three other Pirates also recorded 2 RBI each.

“Our team needs to be able to respond to challenges,” Manhart said. “We had a rough couple of innings, and I got onto them a little bit, and they responded, and I’m really proud of that. They pulled it back together as a team.”