In just two innings, Plant City generated all the offense it needed to get to the next round of regionals.
The Raiders picked up a 4-0 win over Steinbrenner in the 8A-Region 2 quarterfinal Wednesday night thanks to a four-run second inning and solid pitching and defense the rest of the way. The win set up a May 8 semifinal game at East Bay, which advanced with a 5-1 road win over Sickles.
With one out and Rachel Arnold and Stephanie Bowers on base, Haley Frangioni hit an RBI single to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. With Bowers on third and Taylor Bennett up to bat, Frangioni moved to second base on a wild pitch and Bennett reached first on a walk. Two at-bats later, Emily Longoria hit a three-RBI triple to send everybody home and bring the Plant City lead up to 4-0.
Though the Warriors did reach base and scoring position afterward, Plant City pitcher Ashley Blessin and the Raiders defense came up with stops when they needed to and shut down an offense that had scored 29 runs in its previous four games.
Next Tuesday’s game at East Bay will begin at 7 p.m. The winner will face either Lakewood Ranch or the winner of Wednesday’s East Lake-Manatee game.