Hagerty looks to its bench for playoff boost
Just when the highs and lows of the softball season appeared to be balancing out for Hagerty it was hit hard with an injury after winning the district title last week.
Hagerty will likely be without starting pitcher Ashley Worrell for its Class 8A regional quarterfinal against visiting East River tonight at 7 p.m.
Worrell, who is 11-1 on the season, suffered a severe left ankle sprain as the team celebrated its 2-1 win over Lake Howell on Thursday.
Junior Gabe Mathre, a Santa Fe commit, is slated to get the start in the circle. She lasted just two innings against East River in a 14-3 loss on March 8.
“Gabe has some big shoes to fill,” Hagerty coach David Stone said. “But we have confidence in every player on our roster.”
The earlier loss to East River came less than a month after the Huskies defeated Timber Creek 5-1.
“We’ve stayed a team the entire time, through the amazing wins and through getting run-ruled,” senior Harper Robertson said. “At the end of the day we’re all the same team, the same unit, and it’s the same logo going across our chests and we’re really proud to be Huskies.”
A pair of career recordholders will face off today in Class 8A when Lake Howell travels to St. Cloud at 7 p.m.
St. Cloud senior Cortney Wentzell belted her fifth home run of the season and 24th of her career in last week’s 5-2 district final win over East River.
Lake Howell senior Shanika Klett recorded two hits and stole two bases in last week’s loss to Hagerty to extend her school career marks in both of those categories. Klett now has 149 hits and 65 stolen bases, surpassing previous standards set by Ashia Kerr (138) and Samara Gammons (51).
Eustis, ranked No. 1 in the Sentinel Super Six, faces a steep test tonight against an opponent highly touted in the state rankings.
The Panthers host Alachua Santa Fe at 7 p.m. Santa Fe enters the game ranked No. 4 in Class 5A by Miracle Sports while Eustis is No. 2.
Montverde Academy, ranked No. 6 in 4A, hosts No. 8 Tampa Academy of Holy Names in the only other matchup between top 10 teams involving area programs.
Port Orange Spruce Creek needed 14 innings to unseat Orange City University 4-3 last week in a Class 9A district semifinal.
“That’s hands down the longest game I’ve ever been around,” Spruce Creek coach Cameron McClelland said.
The Hawks went on to defeat DeLand 8-4 to capture their second straight district crown and earn a home game to open region play.
Spruce Creek hosts Flagler Palm Coast, a team it defeated 10-0 in February. 1. Eustis (22-1) 2. Timber Creek (22-3) 3. (4) West Orange (23-3) 4. (NR) Port Orange Spruce Creek (18-9) 5. (NR) St. Cloud (21-5) 6. (NR) Hagerty (17-7)
Lake Howell, Deltona, Winter Springs, Orange City University, Apopka, Boone.