Senior Zabala preparing to lead Doral Academy to another state championship
Most of the pieces were there. Willie Viruet knew it. When he took over the Doral Academy softball team before the 2018 season, Viruet felt confident the Firebirds were finally on the cusp of breaking out and making their presence known among the state.
But there was one piece, one key player, missing. He’d have to wait a year for her to arrive on campus.
“When Alyssa came in as a freshman,” Viruet said, “she was the final piece that we needed.”
Indeed, Alyssa Zabala has played a pivotal role in Doral Academy reaching new heights. She’s been the ace of their pitching staff for three years and has led them to places they have never been before.
In 2019 as a freshman, they reached their first state final four before falling to eventual state champion Lake Region.
In 2020, she led them to a 7-3 record before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season.
And then in 2021, Doral finally won it all. The Firebirds capped a 29-2 season with a 5-0 shutout over Winter Springs for the Class 6A state title. Zabala allowed just two hits over her five-inning complete game.
“That was everything we had been working for,” Zabala said. “This isn’t just something that happened overnight.”
Zabala has been there through the rise.
And she’s ready for one final run before passing the torch to a young yet talented team.
Zabala is the lone senior on a 17-player Doral roster that includes eight middle schoolers and four freshmen.
Zabala spent her first three years learning from seniors who came before her — Gabriella Ruiz and Jenelle Figueroa in 2019, Kaylee Rodriguez in
2020, Amanda Ramirez, Kassandra Machado, Meghan Neto and Mikaela Roig in 2021.
Now, it’s Zabala’s turn. “I love being in that position to finally be able to lead and lead in the way that the girls that were older than me led,” said Zabala, who signed to play collegiately at Louisville, where she also plans to study communications with the goal of a broadcast journalism career. “We’ve made this program a successful one. I’m ready to be in that position and teach the younger girls what it is to be a state champion.”
But, in reality, Zabala has led this team with her right arm for the past three years. She enters her senior year with a
0.76 ERA — 28 earned runs allowed in 257 1⁄3 innings — while striking out 335 of the 1,034 batters she has faced (a 32.4 percent strikeout rate).
She went 23-2 with a 0.78 ERA last season. In 21 starts, Zabala threw 17 complete games, 11 shutouts, four no-hitters and two perfect games.
“I have eighth- and ninth-grade pitchers, and they look at her like she’s a god,” Viruet said. “But at the same time, she’s a humble ballplayer and it’s really fun to see her compete against some of the top teams in the country.”
Viruet specifically pointed out her performance last season in Doral’s 2-1 regular season win over Bradenton Lakewood Ranch. Zabala gave up a first-inning run to
‘‘ WE’VE MADE THIS PROGRAM A SUCCESSFUL ONE. I’M READY TO BE IN THAT POSITION AND TEACH THE YOUNGER GIRLS WHAT IT IS TO BE A STATE CHAMPION. Alyssa Zabala
put the Firebirds in an early hole, but settled in after that. Zabala held Lakewood Ranch scoreless over the final six innings, striking out eight while allowing just four total baserunners, as Doral rallied to tie the game in the fourth and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh.
“It was like poetry in motion,” Viruet said. “What she did there was unbelievable. I remember my daughter [Leyani Viruet, an eighth grader on the team at the time] telling me, ‘Papi, that was awesome.’ ... Being able to see that just helps with the overall team chemistry and the vibe.”
And Zabala isn’t doing it alone. She has a pretty good offense to give her run support as well.
While the Firebirds graduated four seniors, most of their top hitters are back this season.
The most impressive might be eighth-grader Anabella Abdullah. The shortstop dominated at the plate as a seventh grader, hitting .434 with 21 stolen bases, seven doubles, one triple, four home runs, 32 RBI and 38 runs scored.
“I’ve been lucky enough to coach her since she was 5 years old,” Viruet said of Abdullah. “It’s been a lot of fun seeing her grow. ... She knows she’s ready to do it. It’s weird because of her age, but physically, she could pretty much handle anyone.”
Other top returners to the lineup include junior Ana Richiez (.441 average, 21 RBI, 41 runs scored last year) and freshman Megan Villazon (.429 average, 11 RBI).
“We’re young,” Viruet said, “but we’re also experienced.”
THIS AND THAT
Miami Palmetto, which reached the Class 7A state semifinal last year, will need to replace the production of Amanda Diaz and Olivia Rapp, but returns a solid core led by seniors Melody Vizcaino, Alexis Ortega, Isabella Martinez and Alyssa Sedler as well as junior infielders Sophia Wylie and Ana Mendieta.
District 16 in Class 3A will once again be one to watch. Westminster Christian is coming off a state semifinal appearance. Somerset Silver Palms looks to build on its run to the regional semifinals, and Gulliver Prep looks to return to the state series. Ransom Everglades, Keys Gate and Carrollton are also part of the stacked district.
AAJordan McPherson: 305-376-2129, @J_McPherson1126