By TAYLOR TUBBS
News-Sun correspondent
SEBRING - "This is one of the biggest wins we've had since I have been coaching," said Sebring head softball coach Joe Sinness.
"This game is the first time we have beat Haines City in the past four and a half years."
Quite an amazing feat for the Lady Streaks.
On Tuesday night the Streaks took on the Haines City Hornets at home, where they were able to come away with an exciting, 5-4 victory.
Sebring got a big lead early on in the bottom of the first after holding the Hornets off in the top half of the inning.
Kara Faircloth, Loren Eures, Chelsea Bassett and Carly Hoffner were all able to come across the plate, giving Sebring a 4-0 lead.
"That was really great," said Sinness. "It was a good way to start the game."
A similar story weaved itself for the second inning, as the Sebring defense was able to hold off the Hornets in the top of the second.
Sebring scored again in the bottom of the second when Taryn O'Bannon was able to make a run into home off of a hit by Hoffner, giving the Streaks a substantial 5-0 lead.
The third inning went by without a run for either team.
In the top of the fourth, Haines City seemed to find its mark with the ball and was able to make several runs.
The Hornets made their first score of the night after a force out attempt was missed.
Haines City scored three more times in the fourth inning, after a hit flew out to center field, to make the score a more closely contested match of 5-4.
In the top of fifth inning the Streaks were able to effectively handle the Hornets with two ground outs from short to first, and the third out caught by the left fielder.
In the bottom of the fifth Hoffner and Bassett got on base with walks, but the Streaks were unable to bring them around.
The sixth inning went by in a similar manor with neither team adding to the scoreboard.
The Hornets were shut down in the top of the seventh with grounders and a fly ball to the center fielder, securing for the Streaks the 5-4 win.
The big win against Haines City in their second home game shows much promise for the Streaks upcoming season.
"We have a young team this year," said Sinness. "We have four seniors, but I feel like we have a really good team this year too."
After the outstanding win against Haines City, the Streaks were back at it Thursday night against DeSoto.
Friday, February 22, 2013 - www.newssun.com/FRI-2-22-13-SebSoftball