The Durant High School softball and baseball teams picked up big wins over rival Plant City High April 11, at home.
Durant’s Paige Davis gave up just one hit in a 6-0 win against the Lady Raiders, in the non-district season finale for both softball teams. Chaz Fowler also threw a one-hitter for Durant’s baseball team, leading them to a 1-0 win over the Raiders.
Davis, a senior who has been stellar on the mound for the Lady Cougars this season, didn’t walk any Plant City batters in the complete-game shutout.
“She did a solid job again tonight,” said head coach Matt Carter. “She’s been on a roll here lately. She’s consistent, and she does the same thing that she’s done for us the last two years.”
Durant moved to 17-8 overall on the year with the win, while Plant City fell to 15-7. Both teams went into their respective district tournaments this week as No. 1 seeds.
Carter said the win over Plant City is a good sign going into districts.
“They’re 10-0 in their district and are the No. 1 seed, so we wanted to come out here and prove a point, and we did,” he said.
Durant head baseball coach Butch Valdes liked what he saw out of Fowler April 11.
“This was the Chaz Fowler of old,” he said. “He’s had some rough spots this season, but what he did tonight is the Chaz Fowler of old. That’s the guy who throws and mixes up the pitches and doesn’t always try to throw it by you. He kind of deals a little bit.”
Fowler said it came down to focus.
“It’s just about going out there and throwing first-pitch strikes,” he said. “Once you get them in a hole, there’s basically nothing else they can do.”
With Fowler pitching well, along with Durant’s ace Tyler Danish, the Cougars will be a favorite as they enter the Class 8A District 7 tournament.
Plant City’s Keven Long also pitched a solid game Thursday. The lone run of the game came in the fourth when Durant scored on an infield error.
“To make a district title game, or regionals or state, we have to make those plays,” said PCHS head coach Mike Fryrear. “Defensively, we were sound tonight other than that one play. Unfortunately, that was the difference in the game.”