Coral Springs Charter rallies past St. Thomas

PEMBROKE PINES — In its first season back in the Broward County Athletic Association, the Coral Springs Charter softball team is atop the county.

The Panthers, winners of three consecutive state titles, won the BCAA Big 8 softball final 4-2 over St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday night at Silver Lakes Park-South.

“Our program has become about winning, winning big and winning often,” Coral Springs Charter coach Mark Montimurro said. “We’ve never played in this [tournament] before, so we expected to win it.”

Starting pitcher Emily Estroff settled in late in her complete game effort, retiring 10 of the final 11 Raiders she faced. She struck out eight, allowing two runs and five hits.

Coral Springs Charter took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, scoring three runs with the ball never leaving the infield. Senior Gianna Boccagno got it started with a one-out walk, pinch runner Jaydah Stroup came around to score on an error that followed an infield single from Aliza Laboy. Laboy later scored from third on another error, and Bridget Dunham gave the Panthers the lead, scoring on a passed ball with two outs.

“This team always finds a way. That’s why I love coaching them,” Montimurro said.

CSC added an insurance run in the sixth when Cassidy Crump drilled a twoout RBI single to center.

Aquinas starter Gabriella Nori was dealing until the wild fifth. She retired 11 consecutive batters and 13 of the first 14 she faced, striking out five the first time through the Panthers order.

Nori ended up allowing four runs — all unearned — on four hits and struck out seven.

The Raiders went up 2-0 with a home run to left field off the bat of junior shortstop and cleanup hitter Meagan Patterson.

“After the home run, I was kind of rattled, but I just had to work with my defense and know that they’re going to make plays behind me,” Estroff said.

St. Thomas loaded the bases in the first, but came up empty as Estroff escaped with a strikeout.

In their first meeting this season, Coral Springs Charter won a 5-3 decision at home over St. Thomas on Feb. 20.

JOHN MCCALL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sara Berthiaume, left, and Aliza Laboy, of Coral Springs Charter, celebrate a run against St.Thomas Aquinas on Thursday.