Lakewood Ranch's Denali Schappacher's home run caps district title victory
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Denali Schappacher dug into the left-handed batter's box on Thursday looking to continue her leadoff duties as a slap hitter: get on base.
But this time was different for the Lakewood Ranch junior.
Schappacher received a middle-in pitch and executed her patented slap swing.
Except the ball didn't ping on the ground or into the gap for a single, double or triple.
It cleared the right field wall for her first career home run.
It also brought the rest of the Mustangs softball team out of its dugout to greet Schappacher, because it was a walk-off blast.
The solo homer ended Ranch's Class 8A-District 8 championship game against visiting Sarasota in the bottom of the fourth inning as the 15-run mercy rule was enacted with the 16-1 score line.
"I kind of knew, 'This is probably the only pitch I'm going to be able to hit out right now,'" said Schappacher, who is a nominee for the 8A all-state and all-academic teams this season. "I was really feeling it."
With everyone on her travel team having home runs in their career, Schappach
er said people joke with her about not hitting one.
That includes Lakewood Ranch head coach Maggie Feix.
"Denali has been itching for that home run and we just said, 'Have a couple more bowls of Wheaties,'" Feix said.
That joking might stop now that Schappacher went yard.
The home run also completed a reversal from 2015, when the top-seeded Mustangs (22-4) fell to rival Braden River in the district semifinals. This time, Ranch polished off a district title with its second consecutive mercy-rule shortened victory, and it earned the Mustangs a home regional playoff game Wednesday against Tarpon Springs East Lake.
The Mustangs potent lineup exploded for eight runs in a 12-batter first inning.
Schappacher had two hits in the inning, the latter was a two-run triple to the right-center field gap. She finished 4 for 4 with a stolen base, three RBIs and scored four times, including Ranch's first and last runs.
During that first-inning scoring barrage, the Mustangs relied on their experience with Sarasota starting pitcher Brittany Bendel to execute a patient approach to a 'T.'
Kyra Klarkowski and Morgan Cummins were two hitters that battled back from two-strike holes to get on base with a walk in that opening frame.
"We've seen Brittany a lot, so we knew she stresses on the outside corners," said Klarkowski, who had a double and scored two runs. "So outside corners, fouled it off, wait to get your pitch and drive it when it's there."
With Klarkowski and Cummins getting free passes in front of her, Mackenzie Meyer delivered the first crushing blow of the game with a blooper to shallow right field that dropped and scooted past Sarasota's Victoria Martin.
The single scored two, and Meyer advanced to second base on the throw home.
Later, Schappacher belted her two-run triple and the Mustangs batted around for a second time in the game during a seven-run third inning to avoid any doubt.
Meanwhile, Kailey Christian allowed one earned run - a homer by Sailors third baseman SarahBeth Wengerd - in four innings to grab the victory. Christian had four strikeouts, while allowing two hits. And the home run allowed was the lone hit out of the infield over two district tournament games that Ranch hurlers conceded.
Though, Christian got off to an inauspicious start when she loaded the bases with nobody out off a walk, hit-by-pitch and a bunt single in the top of the first.
Then she mowed down the next three with two strikeouts and a groundout, without incurring any damage.
Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald.
This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch's Denali Schappacher's home run caps district title victory ."