West Orange climbs to No. 1
There’s some familiarity this week with softball region championship games as five area teams remain in contention for trips to the state final four.
Despite slow starts and the loss of key players to graduation in recent years, a Class 9A region tournament rematch will decide who advances to the state tournament next week in Vero Beach.
Back-to-back state champion West Orange (22-7), ranked No. 1 in the Sentinel Super Six, faces No. 6 Port Orange Spruce Creek (19-10) in a region final for the third straight year. West Orange won the previous two matchups 2-0.
The game is scheduled for tonight at 7 in Port Orange. Much like West Orange, the host Hawks went through bumpy stretches this season before going on to win a district title.
The Warriors are playing in a region final for the fourth year in a row. They also advanced to the state tournament in 2013.
Timber Creek (23-5) hosts Tampa Alonso (23-6) at 7 p.m. in another Class 9A final.
The Wolves, who lost to Alonso 2-1 in 2016, have been on the cusp of reaching the state final four numerous times in recent years. They reached the state semis in 2013 but have lost in a region final in four of the past six seasons.
Falling short is not lost on current players, who have done all they can to maintain lofty expectations following setbacks in the finals in 2015 and 2016 and the region semis in 2017.
“In three years we’ve gone games away from states,” Timber Creek junior said. “We want this so bad, and the pressure is immense.”
No. 2 Hagerty (24-5) and No. 5 Clermont East Ridge (27-2) are on the road Friday for region finals in Class 8A.
The Huskies are at Lakeland George Jenkins (23-5) at 7 p.m. It’s the first trip to the region finals for Hagerty since advancing in backto-back years in 2014-15.
East Ridge last reached the elite eight in 2014. The Knights play at defending state champ Orange Park Oakleaf (27-2) at 7 p.m.
Here’s a look at the updated Super Six rankings entering Friday’s region finals.
The Super Six rankings:
— Held off Olympia 6-5 in semis.
visiting region
— Won 3-0 at Winter Springs in Super Six matchup.
— Season ended in 5-2 loss vs. Viera.
— Season ended in 3-0 loss vs. Hagerty.
— Has allowed one run in past five games.
— Defeated Orange City University 2-0.
Timber Creek (22-5), Orange City University (21-5), Eustis (20-6), Apopka (20-6), Lake Brantley (20-5), St. Cloud (19-9).