DOVER — Sammy Tyler needed this one.
After getting roughed up by Bloomingdale on Valentine’s Day, Tyler was eager to put the Bulls’ game behind her and dominate a tough opponent.
Unfortunately for Plant City, the Raiders proved the foil.
Tyler gave up just two hits, and the Chargers scored three in the final two innings as Strawberry Crest defeated distract rival Plant City 3-0 Tuesday night.
“Pretty much everything was working,” Tyler said. “That was definitely my best game of the year.”
Tyler effectively mixed her drop ball and cutter, keeping the Raiders (4-3) off balance. The senior righty fanned eight and didn’t allow a runner to reach second all night. The two hits she surrendered were singles.
“(Tyler) left some balls up against Bloomingdale, and they hit her pretty well,” Chargers coach Mindy Miltner said. “But she pitched well tonight.”
Strawberry Crest (6-1) broke open a scoreless game in the fifth. Mia Fung singled and stole second. Then with one out, Cacey Simmons drove a ball into the leftfield gap for a stand-up triple.
Strawberry Crest added a pair in the top of the seventh. Ashton Sparkman came in to score on a wild pitch, and Sarah Rowley made it 3-0 on an RBI groundout.
Not all the news was good for Strawberry Crest on Tuesday. Third baseman Trystan Reibsome’s right knee buckled while chasing down a foul ball in the fourth. Reibsome left the game and was taken to a local hospital.
“Every time she tried to move her foot, her knee just felt loose,” Miltner said. “As of right now it doesn’t look too good but hopefully by (Wednesday) something better will come up.”