Players of the week — Feb. 21-26
Keala Hollenkamp, So., Academy of the Holy Names
Position: Pitcher/third baseman
Season stats: 2.43 ERA, 44 strikeouts
The lowdown: Two weeks ago, Kollenkamp threw a combined 13 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 24 in wins over Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and defending state finalist Land O’ Lakes to start the season. Fans were impressed. Hollenkamp finished with 40 percent of the votes in the Hillsborough County player of the week poll to finish in a tie with Tampa Catholic’s Angelina Ricciardi.
Angelina Ricciardi, Jr., Tampa Catholic
Position: Third baseman/pitcher
Season stats: .438 batting average, 12 RBIs, 1.56 ERA
The lowdown: In the first week of the season, Ricciardi threw a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in a win over Academy at the Lakes and hit .833 with a combined two homers and nine RBIs in the first two games. Fans took notice. Ricciardi had 40 percent of the votes in the Hillsborough County player of the week poll to finish in a tie with Academy of the Holy Names’ Keala Hollenkamp.
Preseason pitcher of the year
Haven Legett, Jr., Steinbrenner
Last season, Leggett ended up going 5-0 last season with a 0.58 ERA while striking out 43 in 48 innings. Fans paid attention. Leggett had 32 percent of the votes (321) in the Hillsborough County preseason pitcher of the year poll to beat out Newsome’s Kelsey Winter, who had 25 percent (254 votes).
Preseason hitter of the year
Shelby Allen, Sr., Durant
One of the area’s top hitters, Allen finished last season batting .540 with 14 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Fans were impressed. Allen had 34 percent of the votes (657) in the Hillsborough County preseason hitter of the year poll to beat out Jefferson’s Kathyria Garcia, who had 24 percent (471 votes).
Top 15 team rankings
| Rank/team | Record |
| 1. Berkeley Prep | 9-0 |
| 2. Newsome | 5-0 |
| 3. Durant | 3-1 |
| 4. Sumner | 7-0 |
| 5. Steinbrenner | 4-1 |
| 6. Robinson | 3-2 |
| 7. Academy of the Holy Names | 3-2 |
| 8. Strawberry Crest | 4-0 |
| 9. Bloomingdale | 2-3 |
| 10. Plant | 3-2 |
| 11. Gaither | 6-1 |
| 12. Tampa Catholic | 3-2 |
| 13. Jefferson | 4-1 |
| 14. Lennard | 4-1 |
| 15. Sickles | 1-4 |
Tuesday night rewind (March 9)
Scoreboard
Seffner Christian 4, Academy at the Lakes 2
Tampa Catholic 15, Brooks DeBartolo 0
Sumner 5, Lennard 0
Spoto 2, Armwood 1
Jefferson 13, Brandon 1
Durant 1, Bloomingdale 0
Steinbrenner 6, Sickles 1
Leto 24, Blake 0
Middleton 35, King 25
Wharton 11, Chamberlain 1
Gaither 17, Tampa Bay Tech 1
Robinson 7, Alonso 1
Plant 3, East Bay 2
Prime time team of the night
Durant
To stay undefeated, the Cougars had to get past Bloomingdale’s freshman ace Natalie Cable. It was not easy. Cable allowed just one hit and finished with 17 strikeouts. Still, Durant showed its resolve, manufacturing the one run it needed to come away with a 1-0 victory. Shelby Allen drove in the winning run in the fourth. The pitching tandem of Amy Bak (five innings, six hits, no runs, six strikeouts) and Haleigh Thomas (two innings, no runs, no hits, three strikeouts) kept the Bulls off the scoreboard thanks to an effective performance on the mound.
Prime time player of the night
Kaia Cortes, So., Berkeley Prep
In a battle of unbeatens, Cortes did her part on offense. She was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two homers and a double to go along with three runs and two runs scored to lead the Buccaneers to a 7-5 victory over Wesley Chapel.
Other prime time performers
Bella Busciglio, Fr., Tampa Catholic: Threw a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts in a win over Brooks DeBartolo.
Olivia Cannella, Sr., Tampa Catholic: Finished with two doubles and three RBIs in a win over Brooks DeBartolo.
Lindsey Chadwick, Sr., Robinson: Went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in a win over Alonso.
Lexi Cowles, Jr., Wharton: Powered the Wildcats’ offense by going 4-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored in a win over Chamberlain.
Kathyria Garcia Soto, Sr., Jefferson: The big bat in the lineup ended up going 3-for-4 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored in a win over Brandon.
Hannah Huseby, Sr., Tampa Catholic: Went 3-for-3 with an RBI in a win over Brooks DeBartolo.
Haven Leggett, Jr., Steinbrenner: Threw five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five, in a win over Sickles.
Megan Loughren, Jr., Gaither: Had a triple, a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in a win over Tampa Bay Tech.
Kohanna Pousson, Jr., Robinson: Allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out eight in a win over Alonso.
Paige Quinn, 8th, Berkeley Prep: Hit a three-run homer in a win over Wesley Chapel.
Teagan Riley, Jr., Plant: Had two hits, including a homer and a walk-off single to beat East Bay in eight innings.
Savana Robnett, Jr., Sumner: Had a double and three RBIs in a win over Lennard.
Elizabeth Strom, Jr., Leto: Ended up going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored in a win over Blake.
Jeirany Tavares, Fr., Gaither: Went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs in a win over Tampa Bay Tech.
Alyssa Vallad, Jr., Sumner: Threw a three-hit shutout with four strikeouts in a win over Lennard.
Wednesday night rewind (March 9)
Scoreboard
Palm Harbor University 11, Alonso 3
Plant 6, Sickles 3
Prime time team of the night
Plant
The Panthers continued their solid week, knocking off Sickles 6-3 for their second straight victory. Tied at 2 after the first inning, the Panthers broke the game open by scoring one run each in the second and third innings and adding two more in the fourth.
Prime time player of the night
Abby Lucas, Jr., Plant
Provided the big bat in the lineup by going 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored in win over Sickles.
Thursday night rewind (March 10)
Scoreboard
Sumner 13, Tampa Bay Tech 8
Lennard 15, Middleton 0
Newsome 1, Bloomingdale 0
Steinbrenner 12, East Bay 2
Gaither 12, Jefferson 0
Chamberlain 12, Blake 1
Prime time team of the night
Sumner
The Stingrays, who made the playoffs in their first season a year ago, have continued to impress with a perfect record through their first six games. They remained undefeated after beating Tampa Bay Tech 13-8 on Thursday. Megan deVilliers, Kayla DiNova, Savana Robnett and Karlee Salisbury each had two hits to lead the offense. Alyssa Vallad finished with 10 strikeouts on the mound.
Prime time player of the night
Jocelyn Wilkes, Sr., Gaither
The USF signee threw five scoreless innings, allowing one run while striking out eight, on the mound and going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs at the plate to lead the Cowboys to a 12-1 win over previously undefeated Jefferson.
Other prime time performers
Daria Bush, Fr., Chamberlain: Allowed one earned run on two hits and struck out 15 in a win over Blake.
Lily Holtje, So., Steinbrenner: Ended up going 3-for-3 with a double, a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored in a win over East Bay.
Ariana Rego, Jr., Strawberry Crest: Allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out 16 in a win over Wharton.
Arianna Rodriguez, Jr., Lennard: Finished 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored in a win over Middleton.
Aasia Scerbo, So., Gaither: Went 3-for-3 with a double, a homer and three RBIs in a win over Jefferson.
Kelsey Winters, Sr., Newsome: Threw a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a win over Bloomingdale.
Savana Woods, So., Lennard: Struck out nine and ended up one walk away from a perfect game on the mound and went 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and four RBIs in a win over Middleton.
Friday night rewind (March 11)
Scoreboard
Berkeley Prep 6, West Orange 4
Berkeley Prep 5, Montverde Academy 2
Newsome 3, Durant 2
Sumner 10, Sunlake 0
Strawberry Crest 13, Plant City 3
East Bay 21, King 0
Seffner Christian 7, Zephyrhills 4
Prime time team of the night
Newsome
In a battle of unbeatens, the Wolves rallied from 1-0 first inning deficit to beat Durant 3-2. Olivia Feldman, Karley Shelton and Kiley Shelton each drove in runs. That was enough for Kelsey Winters, who tossed a three-hitter, allowing two unearned runs while striking out 15.
Prime time player of the night
Hannah Church, Sr., Berkeley Prep
The Ohio State signee went a combined 3-for-4 with a homer, a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored in wins over West Orange (6-4) and Montverde (5-2) that kept the Buccaneers perfect record intact (9-0).
Other prime time performers
Kylee Dodson, Jr., Strawberry Crest: Ended up going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in a win over Plant City.
Shannon Kendall, So., Seffner Christian: Threw a two-hitter, allowing three unearned runs while striking out 11, in a win over Zephyrhills.
Amelia Kent, Jr., Berkeley Prep: Went a combined 5-for-9 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in wins over West Orange and Montverde.
Chandler Parker, Fr., East Bay: Had a homer and drove in five runs in a win over King.
Ariana Rego, Jr., Strawberry Crest: Struck out 13 on the mound and went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two RBIs and a run scored in a win over Plant City.
Elana Roush, So., East Bay: Had a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in a win over King.
Kennedy Shea, Fr., Strawberry Crest: Finished 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in a win over Plant City.
Saturday’s matchups (March 12)
Bay Made Fastpitch Invitational (at Greco Complex)
Lake Region vs. Sickles, 3 (Field 1)
Steinbrenner vs. Durant, 3 (Field 2)
Plant vs. Lakeland McKeel, 3 (Field 3)
Steinbrenner vs. Calvary Christian, 5 (Field 2)
Robinson vs. Lakeland George Jenkins, 5 (Field 4)
Sickles vs. Land O’ Lakes, 7 (Field 1)
Durant vs. Calvary Christian, 7 (Field 2)
Plant vs. River Ridge, 7 (Field 3)
Robinson vs. Palmetto, 7 (Field 4)
