Godfrey leads Coral Springs Charter to state
Brianna Godfrey has been the anchor for the Coral Springs Charter softball team for much of her seven seasons with the Panthers.
Then the senior pitcher and Marshall University signee proved why she has been so valuable when her team needed her most.
With no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Godfrey dropped in a base hit to left field, allowing Emily Barnell to race home from second for the winning run, giving the Panthers a 2-1 victory over Somerset Academy-Silver Palms in a Class 3A regional final on Monday at Betti Stradling Park.
Godfrey (19-3) allowed two hits over seven innings with 15 strikeouts to earn the win. She struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning with the score tied at 1-1.
“I knew that was going to be my last at-bat on this field,” said Godfrey. “Our team got it going in the last inning, and all I had to do was put the ball in play, and we would score.”
She added: “My stuff was working well today. I came out here to win, and I was trusting my stuff. This win was amazing, and we’re going back to state.”
Godfrey will enter the state tournament with 232 strikeouts.
Coral Springs Charter (23-3) advances to the state tournament at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont for a semifinal game on Wednesday. The Panthers will attempt to win their sixth state championship in eight years. They had won a won a statetying record five titles from 2015-19.
“Their pitcher brought her A-game today,” said
Coral Springs Charter coach Mark Montimurro. “We kind of reverted back to early season hitting, but we put some pressure on them late in the game, and if we pushed, we could produce some runs.”
Montimurro continued: “Brianna pitched wonderfully. To have her after seven high school years, in her last home game have the game-winning hit was special.”
The Stallions (21-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, when Taylor Rabhan scored from third on a stolen base attempt. She appeared to be tagged out on the play, but the ball was dropped by Panthers’ catcher Stephanie Basso. Rabhan reached first on a walk, then stole a pair of bases, putting herself in scoring position.
Coral Springs Charter had a great chance to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning with the bases loaded but was unable to produce any runs as Kaitlyn Maston struck out to end the threat.
The Panthers batters were corralled for much of the game as Somerset pitcher Edan Playa held them to three harmless singles through five innings. She finished the game with 11 strikeouts and no earned runs.
Charter finally got the break it desperately needed in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Alivia Taibi, who was running for Basso, scored from third on a throwing error to tie the score at 1-1.
“We’re young, and we came in here knowing we were going to have our hands full,” said Somerset coach Gator Rebhan.
“They have a great pitcher. Keeping this game within one run was a huge accomplishment for our girls.”
The victory was the 11th
consecutive for the Panthers, after losing in the BCAA Big 8 tournament to Cooper City. During that stretch they’ve outscored their opponents 122-1.
NEW TRINITY COACH
Palmer Trinity School announced Abiodun “Tunde” Adeyemi as the new head coach of the varsity boys’ soccer program.
Adeyemi has extensive experience as a player and a coach.
“We are excited to have a talent such as Coach Adeyemi join our athletic department,” said David Lanham, director of athletics. “As we gear up for the upcoming 2022-2023 soccer season, having him at the helm will add depth and an added dimension with his experience as both a player and a coach.”
As a player, Adeyemi enjoyed a professional career spanning 12 years in the United Soccer League (USL) from 2001-2012 with three organizations, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Carolina Dynamo FC and Miami FC.
After retirement, Adeyemi received his National
“B” Coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and coached for the United States Soccer Federation Development Academy in Boca Raton, where he trained many athletes prior to their professional careers.
Most recently, Adeyemi served as the Director of Soccer for Boys and Girls Middle School and Varsity at Somerset Academy Charter. He was also head coach and Director of Girls’ Soccer Operations at Miami Country Day
School where he was named Coach of the Year in 2019 by the Miami Herald.
Prior to his professional athletic career, Adeyemi was a four-year letterman on Radford University’s Division I soccer team. He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in media studies in advertising.
MORE SOFTBALL REGION FINALS
4A: Key West 11, St. Brendan 1: The Conchs won a 4A region title, advancing to the state final four. Isabella Perez 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI; Miesha Hernandez 3-3, SB, RBI; Yahaira Williams 2-3, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Marina Goins 1-2, 2B, SF, R, 2 RBI; Madison Gonzalez 2-3, R, RBI; WP Chloe Gilday 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K. KW