The Ponte Vedra Sharks’ softball team returned to action following the annual spring break with a non-district home game against Bartram Trail and lost to the Bears 4-2.
The Sharks saw no action over the break and that may have had a bit to do with their lack of offense on Tuesday night when they managed just four hits. Two nights later, the girls’ bats came alive when they pounded out an 11-2 win over district foe Pedro Menendez.
Michelle Holder pitched the entire way for Ponte Vedra against Bartram and was touched for two first inning home run blasts. Shark shortstop Michelle Leone got one of those runs back on her bases empty drive over the left centerfield fence in the third inning.
Ponte Vedra tied the game in the fifth inning on a walk to Elizabeth Fox, a wild pitch, Abby Zitello’s perfect sacrifice but and a soft pop fly single to right by Lauren Struble that could not be played by either the Bartram second baseman or their right fielder.
The Bears regained the lead in the sixth inning on a pair of consecutive base hits leading off the inning, followed by a walk. A sacrifice fly scored one run and a squeeze bunt brought in the second run. Ponte Vedra avoided further damage when Taylor Bradshaw threw behind the runner at second and Leone’s return throw home nailed the Bartram runner attempting to score from third.
The Sharks got back in the win column with the return of their power-laden offense in Thursday evening’s district game at Pedro Menendez. Ponte Vedra hammered out 18 hits enroute to the 11-2 win, including triples by Quinlan Richmond and Abby Zitello and doubles by Michelle Leone, Farley Callaghan and Lauren Struble.
Ponte Vedra jumped in front with a pair of first inning runs then added four in the second, three in the fifth and two in the seventh. Pedro was never in the game after the first inning.
Senior Nicole Johnson earned the win for the Sharks, allowing two runs on seven hits.
The Sharks now stand at 15-4 on the season and 6-2 in the district.
