Dolphins softball secured the only win among Keys teams last week as postseason approaches for at least two squads.
The Fins’ Elena Eubank registered 3 hits and 3 RBIs in a 7-2 win over the Carrollton Cyclones on April 10. Sara Robinson had 2 hits while Madelyn Thornton, Maeve Merryman, Shynell McGuire, Eli Roque and Daniela Gonzalez each had a hit. Allison Garcia pitched 7 innings, striking out 6, walking 3 and giving up 4 hits. Eubank had the only hit in a 10-0 loss to the Miami Country Day Spartans on April 9.
Conch softball was tested against tough competition during the Orange Bowl Florida Fastpitch Invitational at Palmetto Bay Park. The Lady Conchs started off with an 11-3 loss to the Westminster Academy Lions on April 12. Key West had 11 hits from eight players, but the Lions racked up 14 to outscore the Conchs. Scarlet Niles, Tavyn Gage and Nina Manresa each had a pair of hits. Niles and Manresa hit doubles. Julene Vega, Alexandra Rodriguez, Shylo Sanchez, Lilee Gage and Alexa Condella accounted for the rest.
Later that day, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders defeated the Conchs 14-1. Sanchez and Vera Rodger singled for Key West, which had 2 hits against the Raiders.
The next day, Key West played the Riverdale Raiders out of Fort Myers. Down by 4 runs in the fifth inning, the Conchs rallied to come within one of the win, but the Raiders held on for the 5-4 win. Riverdale started the scoring but Key West’s Niles homered to tie the game in the first inning.
In inning 6, Alexandra Rodriguez walked, stole second and scored on a Tavyn Gage line drive to center field. With Gage on base and 2 outs, Julene Vega doubled to score Gage. An error by the Raiders and an intentional walk on Niles loaded the bases. Vega scored on a wild pitch, adding a third run in the inning and sparking hopes for a Key West comeback. The rally, however, ended there with a heartbreaking loss.
Key West faced the Davie Western Wildcats in their final game of the tournament. Ranked third in 7A — a division with Florida’s largest schools — the Wildcats had early trouble getting on the board. Solid pitching by the Conchs’ Chloe Gilday helped keep the game scoreless until the bottom of the third inning, when 3 errors and a double put the Western Wildcats ahead 4-0. Key West accounted for 5 errors in the game, proving to be as unfortunate as it was unusual for the team. Four more Wildcats hits in the fourth inning added 3 runs to the lead, putting the game out of reach for the Conchs. Breanna Breener teamed up with Gilday for 4 strikeouts in the loss. Niles, Rodriguez, Manresa and Monica Bueno each singled for Key West.
Coral Shores’ final home game of the season came on April 12 against the Everglades City Gators. The Lady ’Canes came out of the gates with a win in mind, leading 11-8 through the fourth inning. The Gators regrouped, found their stride and gained the forward momentum. By the final inning, Coral Shores was on the losing end of a 26-11 score, but not before enjoying their best offensive showing of the season.
The ’Canes did a fine job getting on base with some solid hitting and careful watching. Chloie Stanley connected for an impressive triple that landed over the center fielder’s head, just shy of the fence, driving in two batters in the process. The Lady ’Canes’ Jenna Mandozzi scored 3 runs. Venessa Cawley, Alex Burson, Chloie Stanley and Grace Maples scored 2 each and Mira Jones crossed the plate one time.
The starting pitcher, Jones had an impressive showing for the ’Canes. The loss likely ended the season for the Hurricanes, who do not participate in a district. The team, whose roster does not include an upperclassman, gained valuable experience which will continue to pay off in upcoming seasons.
District games will begin for Key West and Marathon later this month. Brackets will be determined after the final rankings report later this week.
Photos by Barry Gaukel, Macy Malgrat and Doug Finger.
