Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Cooper City runs into ‘loaded’ foe
National No. 1 Lakewood Ranch ousts Cowboys
VERO BEACH — The Cooper City softball team fought valiantly, but Bradenton Lakewood Ranch brought too much firepower to Vero Beach.
Featuring more than a dozen college softball prospects, the Mustangs, ranked No. 1 in the nation in MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25, bludgeoned the Cowboys 12-2 in the Class 8A state semifinals at Historic Dodgertown on Thursday.
“They’re legit,” Cooper City coach Paul Schmalz said. “They’re a really good team. They’re loaded.”
Lakewood Ranch, which has not lost a game all season, got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Three straight walks from Cooper City pitcher Jasmin Herrera loaded the bases with no outs. Herrera allowed a run on a fielder’s choice and nearly got out of the jam without further damage. But a two-run single by Emma Anthony gave the Mustangs a three-run lead.
Herrera settled in for the next two innings, keeping Lakewood Ranch off the board. She also got Cooper City its first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
“I felt that we were competing with them,” Schmalz said.
But the Cowboys’ chance at an upset fell apart in the fourth inning.
After two quick outs, the Mustangs got a pair of runners on, and Lakewood Ranch catcher McKenzie Clark hit a fly ball to left that was misplayed. Clark motored around the bases to score on the error, and the Mustangs took a 6-1 lead.
Lakewood Ranch extended their lead to 9-1 in the fourth inning and cruised to its eventual win, scoring three more runs in the seventh inning.
“They’ve got some weapons,” Schmalz said.