CSC’s Godfrey, Heritage’s Legette stand out again among Broward County’s best during successful seasons
Emily Legette’s lefthanded bat helped keep American Heritage in position to make a playoff run this season.
Brianna Godfrey’s right arm proved key in Coral Springs Charter’s latest run to the state final four.
They were two of Broward County’s best, and they’re being recognized for it as the Miami Herald’s Broward Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year for Classes 5A-2A.
Legette, a junior who plays both corner infield spots for American Heritage, is a repeat Player of the Year winner. The Virginia Tech commit paced the Patriots this season with a .471 batting average to go along with 27 RBI, 17 runs scored, eight doubles, three home runs and 20 stolen bases.
“Softball is honestly my life,” said Legette, who started playing the sport when she was about 6 or 7 years old. “I know that’s cheesy, but I revolve my whole schedule around softball . ... Going to the gym, hitting balls, throwing. It’s just something that’s been
part of my life for a long time and I can’t imagine life without it.”
Her love for the sport stems from her family’s athletic background. Her brother played football and her older sister played softball, so she grew up “being a baby passed around the softball field.”
She started out playing soccer and softball before
the latter won her over and became her full-time commitment.
“Soccer is a little too much running,” Legette said.
The decision has paid off, with a commitment to a Power Five school already locked up. Legette’s power-hitting style as a corner infielder should translate nicely to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“I know the next level is going to be a lot more intense,” Legette said, “but I’m excited for the grind and with the work I’ve put in to show the world what I can do.”
Before that, though, Legette has one more season at American Heritage. She has been on varsity since the seventh grade. The Patriots won
a state title her first year on the squad in 2018 but hasn’t gotten past the state semifinals since then.
Godfrey, meanwhile, has wrapped up her illustrious preps career at Coral Springs Charter and is off to play collegiately at Marshall University.
The numbers from her high school career speak for themselves.
Since taking over as Coral Springs Charter’s ace as a freshman in 2019, Godfrey compiled a 60-8 record with 32 complete games and seven no-hitters. She allowed 35 total earned runs in 353 innings over four years — that’s a
0.69 ERA — while amassing 619 strikeouts.
Godfrey, helped pave the way for Coral Springs Charter’s state title in 2019, the last in a run of five consecutive years of winning at state, and had the Panthers poised to make a run in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the state series for spring sports. Coral Springs Charter lost in the regional semifinals in 2021 despite a sterling year from Godfrey — a 0.35 ERA with four no-hitters and 234 strikeouts over 121 innings.
As a senior, she went 19-3 with 13 complete games, one no-hitter and 232 strikeouts in 119 innings of work all with a 0.59 ERA. Coral Springs Charter made it to the state semifinals.