After a pair of demolition derbies in their run through the district brackets, the Key West Lady Conchs played for a regional championship this week.
Key West advanced directly to the 4A Region 4 semifinals after earning a bye for the quarterfinals. They faced Lourdes Academy, making short work of the Royal Lions. The Lady Conchs won via mercy rule after five innings, but not before Vera Rodger amassed three hits, including a pair of doubles. Shylo Sanchez doubled and tripled and Kaleya Cervantez added a triple to her stats as well. Key West had 12 hits in total, then went on a stealing spree. Lilee Gage stole two of the team’s total of five stolen bases. Sophomore Brianna Brenner pitched five fantastic innings, striking out eight, walking three and giving up just three hits. The 12-3 win put Key West into the district championship game on May 1 against American High School.
It was more of the same for the overpowered Patriots. The six-inning game ended early after an 11-run onslaught, propelled by Alexa Condella’s five RBIs off a single and double. Shylo Sanchez and Lucy Katz doubled and Tavyn Gage, Lilee Gage and Aaliyah McLeod each added one base hit to the count. Brenner had another excellent showing in the circle, fanning six, walking none and giving up four hits for a single unearned run. The win sealed the deal for Key West, earning them the 4A District 16 title and a place in brackets at regionals.
The Lady Conchs joined 31 other teams still in the hunt for a state title, with regional quarterfinals slated for May 7 (results not available at press time). Their opponent was Barron Collier, the District 12 champs. A win against Barron Collier would place the Conchs in the regional semis on May 13 against the winner of the Archbishop McCarthy vs. Dr. Joaquin Garcia contest.
Marathon’s quest for postseason hardware came to an end at Moore Haven on April 29, when the Terriers nipped away the Fins’ chances for a district title in their first season in the FHSAA 1A Rural classification. Moore Haven dispatched the Dolphins in three innings, ending the district semifinal game early via mercy rule. Shynell McGuire registered the lone hit of the day for Marathon in the 15-0 loss, essentially closing out the season for the Fins, who finished with a 9-7 record.
