Eustis title run comes up short

VERO BEACH — One bad inning was too much for Eustis to overcome in its first trip to the softball state finals.

The Panthers (26-2) yielded two runs in the top of the sixth and never recovered Saturday, falling 2-1 to Coral Springs Charter (30-1) in the Class 5A championship game at Historic Dodgertown. The loss snapped a 24-game win streak for Eustis, ranked No. 1 in the Sentinel Super Six.

“We did everything we needed to do to prepare for this game,” Eustis coach Brittany Beall said. “[Coral Springs] executed when they needed it; that was the one factor in the game.

“We hit the ball good and played better defense today, and we had them all the way to the fifth inning.”

Eustis led 1-0 entering the sixth when a misplayed ball in the left side of the infield put Panthers leadoff hitter Amanda Flynn on base. The senior stole second before scoring from third on a bunt by Lindsey Garcia.

Gianna Boccagno drove in Shannon Doherty on a single down the third-base line two batters later for the deciding run.

It’s the third state title in a row for Coral Springs Charter, which fielded six players from a team won it all two years ago in 4A and again last year in 5A.

Eustis sophomore pitcher Delaney Heaberlin held the two-time defending champs to six hits as she forced Coral Springs Charter to fly out 16 times while working the rise ball.

“I know that we gave it our all,” Heaberlin said. “This is the farthest that our school has ever gone and next year we’re going to come out even stronger and be back here to play again.”