Park Vista pushes through to final on Jones’ top effort
Park Vista players celebrate after winning the 9A regional
PEMBROKE PINES — The third time proved to be the charm as the Park Vista girls softball team punched their ticket to the Class 9A state semifinal for the first time in school history.
Sophomore pitcher Tyrina Jones (25-2) tossed a complete game shutout for the Cobras (27-3) as they blanked host West Broward, 2-0 on Friday afternoon.
It marked only the second time all season the Bobcats (23-5) were shutout in a game this season. The other time was a 10-0 setback to four-time defending Class 5A state champion Coral Springs Charter on April 11.
“Today I pitched really good on the mound,” said Jones, who threw 86 pitches in the seven-inning contest and scattered four hits and struck out five. “I had my defense behind me. My curveball was working really good and my rise [ball] and we had good bats. This is really big. We are making history.”
Park Vista will play the winner of the Spruce Creek/Apopka game In the state semifinal on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex (formerly Historic Dodgertown) in Vero Beach.
Kelsey Ganci was 3-for-3 in the win and her hits in the top of the fourth and sixth innings led to the two runs. Ganci singled to led off the fourth and was replaced by courtesy runner Karina Rader. She advanced to second on a ground out and to third on a bunt single by Morgan Keith. Rader scored on a groundout by Danielle Dougherty.
In the top of the sixth, Ganci lined a single to left and was again lifted for Rader, who moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout. She came around to score on an error.
“We set goals through the year, some small ones along the way,” Park Vista coach Joe DellaRocca said. “But the big thing was to get better at practice and each game…we had to be prepared for these moments and the girls delivered and I am proud of them.”
Victoria Navarro (15-4) took the loss on the mound. She allowed five hits, two runs and struck out four. Jeandelys Rodriguez, Summer Hickson, Navarro, and Kylee Graham each collected one hit for the Bobcats.
Gary Curreri is a correspondent for the South Florida Sun Sentinel.