DOLPHINS & HURRICANES SOFTBALL TRADE RUNS IN CLOSE KEYS MATCHUP

a group of people on a field playing baseball
The Coral Shores High School Varsity Softball Team takes on Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Coral Shores. Carrollton went on to beat the Hurricanes 12-6. Photo by Doug Finger

The Lady Conchs poured on the runs against South Dade High School in a doubleheader on March 5, including a home run from the bat of Miesha Hernandez in game one. Chloe Gilday threw a no-hitter in the shutout, striking out 10 in just 4 innings of play in their 15-0 mercy rule win over the Buccaneers. 

In game two, Hernandez and Nevaeh Arnold paired up in the circle for the Conchs, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 10 in the victory. Game two ended in a 17-2 win for Key West. The lopsided victories were made possible by solid hitting in the two-game series. Lady Conchs earning hits in addition to Hernandez were Isabella Franco, Dharma Murray, Vera Rodger and Madelyn Perusse with 2 hits each over the span of both games. Maicey Malgrat, Shylo Sanchez, Alexa Condella, Ty Cervantes and Lindsey Koppal all earned hits as well. The wins place Key West at 3-0 heading into their next game on Friday, March 10 at home against Santa Fe.

Marathon improved to 2-1 this week after defeating Coral Shores 18-16 at home on Feb. 28. The Fins sealed the victory with 13 hits. Three came from pitcher Allison Garcia, who struck out nine ’Canes over the course of the seven-inning game. Sage Brown amassed 2 hits, 3 stolen bases and an RBI, and Daniella Gonzalez added 2 hits and 1 RBI. The rest of the Fins’ hits came from Elena Eubank, Maeve Merryman, Sara Robinson, Madelyn Thornton, Alba Rodriguez and Ryleigh Garcia with 1 apiece. Both teams meet again in early April, this time in Tavernier. 

Marathon went on to play Somerset South Homestead on March 1, beating them 11-0 at home. Pitching duties in that game were shared by the sisters Garcia. Senior Allison went 3 innings, striking out 8, and 8th grader Ryleigh closed out the win, striking out 2 through the final 2 innings in the mercy-rule shutout. Both Garcias had hits in the game as well as Merryman and Thornton. Elena Eubank earned 3 RBIs in the win.

Coral Shores lost two games last week, bringing their record to 1-2 early in the season. After the loss to Marathon, the ’Canes fell to Carrollton 12-5 at home on March 2. They will have a chance to even their record on March 10 when they travel to Lourdes Academy.

Tracy McDonald
Tracy McDonald fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.