Two runs in 10th KO’s Heritage

PLANTATION American Heritage-Plantation’s bid to to earn an eighth consecutive trip to the state final four ended with a 4-2 10-inning loss to Rockledge on Friday in a Class 6A regional final.

Rockledge shortstop Emily Thomas had the big hit in the top of the 10th with a two-run single that broke a 1-1 tie. Rockledge tacked on one more with a bases-loaded walk and then held off Heritage in the bottom of the 10th.

Rockledge (19-8), looking for its first state title in school history, advances to face Crystal River in the 6A state semifinals at 12:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Eight-time state champion American Heritage’s season ends at 18-9. The Patriots have won eight of the past 15 state championships.

Both teams scored their lone runs in regulation in the third inning.

Rockledge scored in the top of the third on a walk, infield single, walk and hit-by-pitch. First baseman Caitlyn Tuttle was hit by Julia Grobman, forcing in Maddie Navarro, who had singled.

Patriots center fielder Janai Conklin doubled off the left-field fence to lead off the bottom of the inning. Conklin scored on an RBI single by left fielder Emily Legette to tie the game 1-1.

Rockledge had a runner on base in each of the first six innings before going one-two-three in the seventh and eighth innings. Rockledge also had a a lead-off single in the ninth and reached on an error in the 10th. Only twice did it get a runner past second base (third and 10th innings).

The only two innings Heritage went down onetwo-three was the sixth and the ninth. Halle Roach hit a solo home run in the 10th.

American Heritage blanked Goleman 15-0 in the regional quarterfinals and took down Archbishop McCarthy 11-1 in the region semis.