Orang events：West Orange, Timber Creek blanked in Class 8A semifinals

TheTODAY/ 

   VERO BEACH — West Orange and Timber Creek were one victory from setting up an All-Central Florida softball final for the Class 8A state championship tonight.

    Both lost in semifinals Friday night without scoring a run.

    Sarah Maloney pitched a two-hitter, and Weston Cypress Bay beat West Orange (25-6) 3-0 at the Vero Beach Sports Village.

    Timber Creek (25-6) lost 1-0 when Miami Coral Reef pushed across a run in the eighth inning.

    "We never got into our rhythm,'' West Orange coach Bobby Brewer said. "Their pitcher threw a great game. She pretty much dominated us tonight.

    "We put the ball in play, but we didn't have very good at-bats. We just couldn't seem to get going. Give them credit.''

    The Lightning (21-5) scored two runs in the sixth to seal the victory against West Orange.

    They clung to a 1-0 lead since the first when Lexi DiEmannuele led off with a line-drive triple to center field, and Maggie Scott smacked a sacrifice fly to score her.

    The game, which started 35 minutes late because of rain earlier in the day, resumed after about an one-hour lightning delay in the second inning.

    West Orange starter Kelsey Morrison and Maloney kept the game a pitching duel from there, with both teams managing runners but failing to capitalize.

    In the fifth, West Orange's Arielle Pollock walked with two outs and stole second, but she was stranded when Maloney stuck out Morrison swinging.

    The Warriors had combined for 27 runs in their previous three games and scored in double figures 14 times this season.

    "We're better than this, but tonight just wasn't our night," Brewer said.

    All three of Cypress Bay's runs were unearned.

    In Timber Creek's loss, Stephanie Adkins threw a complete game for the Wolves, allowing seven hits and striking out seven. She did not walk anyone.

    Adkins and Rachel Minier led Timber Creek with two hits each.