CLERMONT, Fla. – It was a tough day for area softball teams in Clermont.
Baldwin bowed out in its state semifinal debut.
Fort White came up agonizingly short in its first state title game.
And University Christian saw one rough inning sink its bid for a first state title.
Plenty of memories, but plenty of heartbreak, too.
The Indians (26-3) went back and forth with Calvary Christian, using solo homers from Kayla Robinson in the bottom of the fifth and Cali Hartung in the sixth to force extra innings in the Class 3A state semifinal. But Calvary Christian blew it open in the eighth, pushing three across to end the best season in Baldwin history. The Indians hadn’t been past the second round of the playoffs before this season.
Hartung had two of Baldwin’s four hits.
University Christian had a miserable fifth inning end its hope at a state title in an 8-2 loss to Orlando First Academy in the Class 2A title game. The Royals blew open a 1-0 game with a six-run fifth inning to deny UC and star sophomore hurler Sophia Kardatzke.
She struck out eight batters but was clipped by spotty defense (four errors) and gave up a three-run homer in that inning to Alexis Zerquera to put things out of reach. Jaleigha Harris belted a two-run homer in the seventh to avoid the shutout for UC.
Fort White went back and forth with Jay before falling 6-5 in the Class 1A championship. The Indians loaded the bases in both the top of the sixth and seventh innings. They managed to push three across in the sixth to tie things at 5-all, but saw the go-ahead run come home in the bottom of the sixth on a throwing error. A lineout in seventh stranded three and denied the Indians a comeback.
Madalyn Keen and Hannah LeBleu had a pair of hits for Fort White. Kadence Compton whiffed six in the loss.