Prep Report: NFM bags 5A-15 title in 1-0 win
Not everyone at Friday’s District 5A-15 Championship softball game, began the week wanting to see the host Fort Myers Green Wave and North Fort Myers Red Knights meet for the title.
Players, parents and backers at rival schools were among those that showed up to see the tournament’s conclusion. It was hard not to appreciate the matchup of teams and standout pitchers.
Despite the stage, the Red Knights looked much like the same focused bunch they’ve been all season. Junior Jackie Owen struck out 10 batters on the way to her 20th win and sophomore Allie Kennedy smacked an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth, lifting the top-seeded Knights to a 1-0 victory and their first district title.
“We came out with some swagger,” said Owen, who finished with a complete game. “We knew Fort Myers was a great team, but we knew if we played how we did all year we could do it.”
The Knights (24-3) drew on their experience and defeated the second-seeded Wave (18-10) for the third time, using a similar formula of quality pitching, defense and clutch hitting.
Owen sparked the attack in the bottom of the fifth, striking for the first hit off Fort Myers senior Lindsey Richardson, a double to deep center. Kennedy followed with a blast to left that struck the top of the wall and bounced back nearly to second base. Owen scored putting the Knights up 1-0.
“It felt so good,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been in the biggest slump ever. I usually can never hit (Richardson). She’s the best pitcher – other than ours.”
Richardson (14-9) struck out seven, giving her a whopping 281 on the season, but the Knights made the one-run hold up.
They defeated the Wave 1-0 and 2-1 during the season with Owen supplying an inside-the-park home run in the first meeting and a two-run single in the second.
The Wave had the majority of scoring chances Friday. They outhit the Knights 8-2, but stranded nine runners.
In the second, Gabby Savoia and Shelby Mann singled, but with the runners at second and third, Owen struck out the final batter of the inning.
In the sixth, the Knights received strong defensive play from shortstop Kayla Ramey and second baseman Alyssa Dougherty.
After the Wave got the leadoff batter on, both Ramey and Dougherty fielded ground balls and made quick decisions, getting the lead runner both times.
The top of the seventh was pressure-packed as well. With two outs, Sydney Sheehan singled and Rachel Kormos walked to bring up Richardson, but Owen was able to force a sharp grounder to Dougherty for the final out.
“I knew she was their best hitter,” said Owen, “I didn’t want to give her anything good to hit.”
Both teams advance to the regional quarterfinals Tuesday. North hosts Davie Nova at Bobbie Dewey Field where they are unbeaten this season. The Wave travels to face powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
Fort Myers 000 000 0 – 0 8 0
North Fort Myers 000 010 x – 1 2 0
W – Jackie Owen (20-3). L – Richardson.
2B – Owen (N), Allie Kennedy (N).
District 3A-12: Sophomore Talia Baracco delivered a two-run double in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and help Bishop Verot pull out a 2-1 victory over Cardinal Mooney in the district championship game at Fleishman Park.
Hailey Baracco struck out nine batters over seven innings to earn the win and started the game-winning rally with a one-out double. Katie Clinger then singled just in front of Talia Baracco’s clutch hit.
Mooney loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, but Hailey Baracco struck out two hitters and coaxed a comebacker ground ball for the final out.
Verot (18-9) hosts Tampa Catholic Tuesday in a regional quarterfinal at Fleishman Park.
Cardinal Mooney000 000 1 – 1
Bishop Verot000 002 x – 2