TCC Eagle Flashback: May 1, 2011

From TCCeagles.com, May 1, 2011

Tallahassee shuts out Polk State, punches ticket to Utah

PENSACOLA, Fla. (May 1, 2011) - Maybe the No. 4 seeds belong after all. 

Behind freshman pitcher Emily Smethurst, FCSAA No. 8 Tallahassee Community College, the No. 4 seed from the Panhandle Conference, shut out No. 6 Polk State College, 2-0, on Sunday morning to claim the FCSAA Gulf District/NJCAA District H Softball Championship and the accompanying berth to the NJCAA Division I Softball National Tournament in St. George, Utah, May 19-21. 

Tallahassee (37-19) won the tournament as the No. 4 seed for the second time in four years, matching its run to the 2008 title, though in more dominating fashion. Three years ago, the Eagles successfully navigated their way through the loser's bracket, winning five straight elimination games. This time, Tallahassee only trailed once en route to sweeping its four games by a combined score of 18-3. 

"Our players had a calm confidence, they were excited to be on the field and the passion to play the game returned," said Tallahassee head coach Patti Townsend. 

The Eagles had not played since April 14 when they were swept by Chipola College in the PC finale. 

Smethurst held the Vikings to five hits on Sunday as Tallahassee picked up its second shutout of the tournament. Sara Scott shut out Polk State, 6-0, in Friday's tournament opener. 

On Sunday, the Eagles broke a scoreless tie in the third on Amanda Ake's solo home run, her third of the tournament. 

Ake, who also made some clutch plays defensively at shortstop, finished the tournament 6-for-16 with three home runs and seven RBIs. 

The score remained 1-0 until the seventh when Tallahassee picked up an insurance run courtesy of Alexis Anderson's RBI-single. 

Polk State brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom half after a two-out single by starting pitcher Kelly Hunter, but Tallahassee catcher Kirsten Grant picked Hunter off of first base on a 2-0 count to end the game. 

The win was Smethurst's second of the tournament. Scott earned the other two wins for the Eagles. 

Tallahassee will play either Indian River State or Miami Dade for the overall FCSAA Championship. A win would give the Eagles their first state softball championship since winning the FCCAA's slow pitch title in 1994. 

Tallahassee had a 15-day layoff prior to Friday's tournament opener against Polk State.  The Eagles are now looking at a 17-day break before opening play in the NJCAA Tournament. 

"I think we peaked at the right time," added Townsend. "If we do what we're capable of doing, we can win (games)."