By JIM LINETTE
Cape Coral High's underdog role in the District 5A-13 softball tournament fizzled Tuesday night with an 11-4 loss to No. 1 seed North Fort Myers at Lemon Bay.
The Seahawks (9-17) were unable to transfer energy from Monday's 15-0 quarterfinal round victory over Cypress Lake to Tuesday's semifinal matchup with the Red Knights.
Freshman Katelyn Kelly sprayed three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Knights (20-4), who face Lemon Bay, a 6-0 winner over Mariner in the other semifinal Tuesday, in Thursday's district championship game at 7 p.m.
Seahawks pitcher Amanda Hurley retired the first six Red Knight batters in order, but the third inning was a different story. The Knights rallied for eight runs around four hits and four Seahawks errors. Cape finished with seven errors on the night.
Alynn Kayatta added two hits for the Red Knights, who banged out 11 total hits. Emily McLain's two-run double in the first inning staked the Seahawks to a 2-0 lead that did not last.
North senior Darienne Boyden allowed eight hits and struck out nine to pick up her 11th win of the season.
Cape Coral 200 020 0 - 4 8 7
North FM 008 210 x - 11 11 3
W - Boyden (11-3). L Hurley.
2B - McLain (CC).
Island Coast 12, South Fort Myers 2: Pounding out 15 hits and scoring in every inning, Island Coast drubbed South Fort Myers 12-2 in five innings Tuesday evening in District 6A-13 play at Riverdale.
Dana Ruff held SFM in check on the night, allowing just three hits to pick up the pitching win. Peary suffered the loss for South Fort Myers.
Leading the Gators' offensive attack were Dana Ladrigue, who went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI; Darian Martin, who had a single and double in three trips with 2 RBI; and Taylor Sense, who was 1-for-4 with three RBI.
The Gators, who now stand 9-12 on the year, take on host River dale today in the tournament.
SFM 020 00 - 2 3 5
Island Coast 216 12 - 12 15 3
W - Ruff L - Peary
2B - Martin (IC), Ladrigue (IC)
Lemon Bay 6, Mariner 0: Lemon Bay scored all the runs it needed in the first two innings Tuesday night to advance to the District 5A-13 championship game by shutting out Mariner in the semifinals.
The Manta Rays outhit the Tritons 3-2, but took advantage of every scoring opportunity early.
"We just did not hit the ball," said Tritons coach Donna Coleman. "Our energy level was nonexistent."
Lemon Bay takes on North Fort Myers in Thursday's district championship game.
Mariner 000 000 0 - 0 2 3
Lemon Bay 150 000 x - 6 3 2
Baseball
Ida Baker 12, Palmetto Ridge 2: Ida Baker closed out its regular season slate with a 10-run victory Tuesday over Palmetto Ridge.
Branden Gutierrez got unusual adequate run support from Bulldogs teammates, led by Caleb Farmer who ripped a two-run triple in the second inning to help stake Gutierrez to an 8-0 lead. Steve Nason had two hits and drove in two runs while John Angelo drove in a run with a single.
The Bulldogs (14-11) face Fort Myers Tuesday in the District 6A-13 quarterfinal round at Island Coast. The winner advances to the semifinal round Wednesday against Riverdale.
Palmetto Ridge 000 20 - 2 4 1
Ida Baker 532 11 - 12 8 0
W - Gutierrez (5-4). L - Zafra.
3B - Farmer (IB).
Cape Coral 5, Naples 2: The Cape High baseball team upped its season record to 16-7 Tuesday with a 5-2 victory at Naples. Although they managed only three hits in the game, the Seahawks scored four runs in the second and one in the sixth to secure the win.
Brandon Marshall picked up the pitching win for the Seahawks, allowing just four hits in the game. He also contributed one of the hits, a double.
Steven Dudas rapped a double and Kyle Arjona had a single.
The Seahawks return to action tonight, travelling to Charlotte.
Cape Coral 040 001 0 - 5 3 0
Naples 000 020 0 - 2 4 2
W - Marshall
2B - Marshall (CC), Dudas (CC)
