With head coach in hospital, Panthers pour it on, advance

VERO BEACH — While Coral Springs Charter’s softball team was beating Brooksville Hernando in the Class 5A state semifinal on Thursday, its head coach was in a Broward County hospital.

Mark Montimurro, who has won four straight state championships with the Panthers, suffered a mild heart attack, which caused him to miss Thursday’s game and will likely cause him to miss Friday’s state championship.

“I hope to get clearance to be there [Friday],” Montimurro said by text message Thursday. “If not, I can’t wait to break the state record of six in a row next year.”

Assistant coach Paul Gorlick is filling in as Coral Springs Charter’s head coach while Montimurro is out.

“This win’s for coach Mark,” Gorlick said. “He’s doing well. He’s going to be back with us. We followed his gameplan today to a ‘T.’ He scripted it for us, and the girls are on autopilot — they know what they’ve got to do.”

The Panthers beat Hernando 6-1 on Thursday, scoring five runs in the third inning after falling behind 1-0. The big blow came on a two-out, two-run double by Cassidy Crump.

Starting pitcher Brianna Godfrey tossed five innings and gave up one run on three hits. Junior pitcher Alina Varga relieved her and pitched two scoreless frames, striking out five.

Coral Springs Charter will face Marianna in the 5A title game at 10:05 a.m. in Vero Beach on Friday.

“These girls know — they’ve been here before, they all play high-level travel ball, so they’re used to quick turnarounds,” Gorlick said. “The girls are real good. They know what they’ve got to do.”