St. Thomas, Pines Charter to vie for championship

PEMBROKE PINES — St. Thomas Aquinas and Pines Charter will play for this year’s BCAA Big 8 softball title tonight after both earned semifinal victories Thursday at Silver Lakes Park South.

Senior Kaylei Wilcox drove in the decisive run with an RBI single in the fifth inning to seal a 5-2 Raiders win over Douglas. For Pines Charter, sophomore Eliza Gonzalez pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Jaguars past Cooper City, 2-0.

“It’s great to get in the BCAA championship,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Bryan Baucom said. “We’re playing quality teams heading into districts.” Wilcox drove in senior Alley Masocco, who doubled earlier in the fifth, tobreaka2-2tie.Run-scoring doubles from freshman Madison Santana and sophomore Kristen Sacca in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, extended the lead for Aquinas (16-8).

Kaitlin King pitched the first five frames for the Raiders, giving up two runs, while Gabriella Nori shut down the Eagles (14-3) in the final two.

Pitching mostly to contact, Gonzalez struck out just two Cowboys batters as she worked quickly three times through their lineup.

“It was a fantastic effort on her part, fantastic effort by the defense,” said Pines Charter coach Tom Fadul. “She was hitting her spots and her pitches. We just had to manufacture runs and take advantage of some opportunities.”

Pines Charter (14-10) scored twice in the second inning. Angelina Pascual doubled and later scored, stealing home on a rundown play involving Isabella Devesa between first and second base. Devesa ended up at second on the throw home and was driven home on an Alexandra Good RBI single.

Douglas scored its two runs against St. Thomas on a Sammy Gedrin RBI single in the second and a Hannah Bonta sacrifice fly in the third.

Kara Lokeinsky struck out seven Jaguars for Cooper City (16-7) and did not allow a run outside of the second inning.

Today’s final is set for 7 p.m.

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Pembroke Pines Charter pitcher Alexandra Goode winds up to throw a pitch during their BCAA Big 8 softball semifinal game against St. Thomas Aquinas.