Top teams on deck for Kissimmee Klassic
Three of the top-ranked softball teams in the Orlando area will compete at the annual Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic tournaments next week at Fortune Road Softball Complex.
The three-day event begins Thursday. Championship games for both 16-team brackets are April 6 at 5 p.m.
Montverde Academy (14-3) and Hagerty (13-2) join Orange City University (6-4-1) and Winter Springs (4-7) in the Blue Bracket.
Montverde ranks No. 10 overall by MaxPreps computers and No. 3 in FHSAA Class 3A playoff power rankings. Hagerty, No. 12 via MaxPreps, is No. 6 in a stacked 6A field according to FHSAA rankings.
The Eagles opened the season with a 7-0 win vs. Hagerty on Feb. 21.
Montverde, which bats .342 with 43 extra-base hits, plays Monday at Lake Mary (7-8) before opening tournament play Thursday vs. Rockledge (7-4) at 8 p.m.
Sophomore Nevaeh Williams has 74 strikeouts and 7 earned runs allowed in 50 innings pitched for the Eagles.
Hagerty has connected for 30 doubles and 17 home runs. The Huskies’ pitching staff carries a 1.77 ERA.
Junior Ana Roman went 3-for-3 with 2 home runs, a double and 3 RBI while Alexis Williamson pitched a no-hitter with 5 strikeouts during a 6-0 win on March 11 at Lyman (3-5).
Junior Alexis Felker upped her home run total to seven when she went deep twice and drove in 4 runs last week during an 11-0 win vs. St. Cloud (6-7). Roman finished 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and Rachel Matthiesen was 3-for-4 with a home run, 2 doubles and 3 RBI.
Clermont East Ridge (8-2), Deltona (8-3) and Osceola (5-5) are slotted in the Gold Bracket. East Ridge is No. 54 in the state via MaxPreps and No. 12 in FHSAA 7A rankings.
The Knights feature a lineup with six players batting .400 or better, including senior Hailey Hunt (.668 BA, 23 runs, 12 RBI) and sophomore Veronica Peterson (.659 BA, 19 runs, 16 RBI).
Around the bases
Sanford Seminole senior Anne Long pitched a no-hitter Tuesday during a 2-0 win vs. Lake Mary. Long allowed just 1 walk while striking out 3. Mary Long and Addison Poe each went 2-for-3 for the ‘Noles (5-5). Poe finished with 3 stolen bases.
Lake Mary senior Gabriella Mike hit for the cycle Saturday while leading the Rams to a 12-4 win over Sarasota Riverview (10-3). Mike hit a single, double, triple and home run while going 4-for-4 with 5 RBI and 4 runs scored.
Lake Highland Prep senior Shae Steenbergh hit for the cycle Tuesday at Edgewater (0-5) during a 16-0 win. Steenbergh went 4-for-4 with 5 RBI and 3 runs scored. Lily Larson finished 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Trinity Prep sophomore McKenna Hawley, who leads area pitchers with 99 strikeouts, retired 20 batters March 11 during a 6-0 win vs. Orangewood Christian (5-3). The Saints (8-3) play at
Mount Dora Christian (8-4) on Tuesday.
Horizon (10-1), ranked No. 10 in the state by MaxPreps, got 2 home runs from senior Avery Velazquez during a 4-3 win at West Orange (6-6) on March 14. Velazquez also struck out 11 early this month in a 10-0 win at The First Academy (6-5).
Eustis (11-0) plays at Windermere High (7-2) on today at 5 p.m. in a matchup of area teams expected to make deep postseason runs. The Panthers are No. 5 statewide in MaxPreps and FHSAA rankings. Windermere is No. 28 overall via MaxPreps and No. 4 in FHSAA 7A rankings.