Hagerty blanks Winter Springs

In a game of few scoring opportunities it was Hagerty that capitalized in the third inning Tuesday to extend its season into the softball region finals for the first time since 2015.

and drove in the lone runs of the night on deep shots to the outfield to help the visiting Huskies (24-5) claim a 3-0 win over Winter Springs (22-7) in a Class 8A region semifinal.

Hagerty, ranked No. 4 in the Sentinel Super Six, advances to Friday’s region final at Lakeland George Jenkins at 7 p.m.

“When you go against Winter Springs you’re in for a heavyweight fight, and that’s what it was like,” Hagerty coach

said. “We hit them and slugged them, and they came back with a good hit as well, but we were able to dodge it.”

No. 3 Winter Springs loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half of the third on a pair of hits and a walk. But the inning ended on a double play.

Hagerty senior pitcher held the Bears hitless from there until

doubled in the seventh. Glover ended the game by making a diving stop on a grounder in the right side of the infield and tossing the ball to first for the final out.

Host Timber Creek scored twice in the second inning on a home run by senior

and an RBI triple by junior and then held on for a 2-1 win over Oviedo (15-13) in a Class 9A region softball semifinal.

“I couldn’t even see the ball,” Velez said of her homer to left field into the bright sunset. “I was hoping just to get on base.”

The Wolves (23-5) advance to host Tampa Alonso in a region final on Friday. Oviedo scored in the fourth inning on

RBI double, but Wolves pitcher managed to shut out the Lions the rest of the way for the complete-game win.

Oviedo had runners at first and second with one out in the top of the seventh inning, but its rally was snuffed out on a nifty double play. Second baseman

fielded a grounder and tossed to shortstop who fired a laser to catcher for a tag-out of Oviedo’s at home to end the game.

“I can breathe now,” said first-year Creek coach “It was a pressure-filled game, and the girls showed what they’re made of.” Velez