Lake Brantley, Oviedo to be tested in district

Five Orlando-area softball programs rank among the state’s top 20 in all classifications entering district tournaments next week.

That includes Orange City University, which can wrap up an unbeaten regular season with a win Thursday at home at 4 p.m. versus Flagler Palm Coast (4-8).

The Titans (19-0) rank No. 3 overall behind Class 6A’s Doral Academy (21-2) of Dade County and 7A’s Lithia Newsome (21-0) of the Tampa Bay area. University totaled an FHSAA power rating of 23.89 this season.

Doral finished with a 24.66 rating, followed by Newsome at 24.34.

University will be a heavy favorite in the Class 7A District 2 tournament hosted by Port Orange Spruce Creek. The Titans open in the semifinals against the winner of No. 4 seed DeLand (6-12) and No. 5 Palm Coast on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Admission to district tournament games is $6 per session. Tickets for most area schools are available online through the Go Fan app.

District champions and district runners-up advance to regional quarterfinals Wednesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 6.

Lake Brantley (16-5) leads a competitive field in Class 7A District 3 alongside No. 2 seed Oviedo (16-4). Apopka (18-4), Hagerty (14-9) and Lake Mary (11-9) each present formidable challenges as the field competes for two regional berths.

The Patriots rank No. 9 in the state and No. 6 in 7A. Oviedo sits one spot behind Lake Brantley at No. 7 in 7A by a 20.49 to 17.67 margin in power rating and ranks No. 18 overall.

Tuesday district semifinal games feature Lake Brantley versus either Hagerty or Lake Mary and Oviedo against the winner of Apopka and Seminole (10-14). Hagerty won a state title in 2018.

Lake Brantley lost 5-3 to Lake Mary on March 23. Oviedo split two games with Seminole this season.

Eustis, ranked No. 10 overall, appears poised to make a run at the state championship game for the first time since finishing as runner-up in 2017. The Panthers are the top-ranked team in Class 4A with a 17-1 record and 19.97 power rating.

The lone loss this season for Eustis came during a 5-4 setback at Winter Springs March 11.

Winter Springs (15-7) ranks No. 13 in the state and No. 4 in Class 6A. The Bears will get a regular-season rematch with Groveland South Lake (18-3) or Lake Howell (10-10) in the District 4 championship game April 29 should they advance past the winner of No. 4 Lyman (12-10-1) and No. 5 East River (8-11) in a Tuesday semifinal.

South Lake defeated Winter Springs 2-1 on March 30. The Bears, who went undefeated as state champions at 31-0 in 2019, won twice against rival Lake Howell.

Mount Dora Christian, No. 5 in Class 2A, hosts the District 5 tournament, where it faces the winner of Real Life Christian (3-13-1) and Central Florida Christian (3-11) in a semifinal.