Clay claims regional softball victory

Jenna Rogers lined a ninth-inning triple to the right-field fence and Mary Gaver laid down a bunt that caused just enough confusion in the Crystal River infield to give the Clay Blue Devils a 3-2 first-round regional softball victory Tuesday night in Green Cove Springs.

Senior Clay pitcher Crystal Chesser outduels Crystal River strikeout artist.
For more photos from the game, visit the Spotted gallery.

The win puts the Lady Blue Devils (22-5) in Friday night's regional semifinal against District 6 champion Dunnellon, a 25-3 team that beat St. Augustine Tuesday night, 3-0. Friday's game will be at 7 p.m. at Clay High.

The visiting Lady Pirates came into Tuesday's Clay game with one of the strongest pitchers in the state, Cassidy Rush, a Florida Gulf Coast University commitment who had 214 strikeouts coming into the game. And, while she added 10 more to that total against Clay, the Lady Blue Devils were able to punch out 10 hits as well, including an in-the-park homer by Tera Powell, triples by Rogers and Loryn Collins and a double by Caitlin Toth.

Meanwhile, Clay pitcher Crystal Chesser outdueled the Pirates strikeout artist by sending down 13 Crystal River batters by herself and giving up only five hits in nine full innings of work.

"She was a good pitcher," Chesser said of her counterpart. "She had a strong breaking ball."

As for her own pitching, Chesser said she was pretty sure she could hold her own on the mound, but the 13 strikeouts were a pleasant surprise as well as a single-game personal-best.