Key West’s Lady Conchs put the gentlemen on notice the past two seasons, and the Southernmost City is now a double diamond dynasty. The Conchs finished their season 19-4, winning their district and regional championships and making their way to the final four teams in the state for the second consecutive year. Three from the Lady Conchs’ roster signed letters of intent to play collegiately next spring. Marathon finished with a winning 8-6 record, but lost in the first round of district playoff action. The Dolphins split with the Coral Shores Hurricanes, each winning one at their home field, while Coral Shores finished 6-7. The independent ’Canes do not participate in district postseason play.
From our staff at the Keys Weekly, congratulations to the 2023 All-Keys Softball Team.
MVP
Miesha Hernandez
Senior, Key West
3B/Pitcher
On a team of standout players, Key West’s Miesha Hernandez found a way to shine even brighter. The St. Thomas University-bound Hernandez led her team in multiple categories, including RBIs with 27 and home runs with three this season. Hernandez scored 28 runs on 28 hits, which included seven doubles and three triples in addition to balls she sent over the fence. Her .385 batting average stands by itself as a solid stat, but her big bat boosted her slugging percentage to .684, leading wise opponents to pitch around her and giving her the team’s top spot in walks with 11 this season.
Elena Eubank
Sophomore, Marathon
Infielder
Elena Eubank amassed a .421 batting average and on-base percentage of .511 while also chalking up 13 RBIs. The hard-hitting sophomore slammed five triples this season, making her one of the Dolphins’ top hitters. Defensively, Eubank makes big plays while holding down the infield for Marathon.
Allison Garcia
Junior, Marathon
Pitcher
Team captain and starting pitcher Allison Garcia won six games on the mound for the Fins this season, chalking up 96 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Garcia batted .342 and drove in 17 runs, making her both an offensive and defensive threat.
Sage Brown
Junior, Marathon
Infielder
Sage Brown moved to Marathon just in time for softball season and made an immediate impact. The junior stole eight bases this season, scored 23 runs, batted .361 and had an on-base percentage of .511.
Ivy Tiedemann
Freshman, Coral Shores
Shortstop
Tiedemann’s fielding skills made her a reliable shortstop for the Hurricanes defensively. Offensively, she led the ’Canes in hitting, batting .350 on the season. The freshman phenom has three more years to develop further for Coral Shores.
Mira Jones
Freshman, Coral Shores
Left Fielder
Hurricane outfielder Mira Jones gave her team everything she had this season, improving both offensively and defensively as the season progressed. The hard-working freshman made huge strides, making her an asset to the ’Canes’ roster.
Nevaeh Arnold
Junior, Key West
Pitcher
Arnold boasts a 2.70 ERA, winning nine games for the Lady Conchs this season. She led the team in strikeouts with 55, and on the rare occasion that she was called to the plate, Arnold delivered there as well, earning one hit and a season batting average of .500.
Chloe Gilday
Junior, Key West
Pitcher
Gilday was perfect on the mound this season for the Conchs, winning all six of her outings. Her 2.07 ERA was Key West’s best, and of the 229 batters brave enough to face her, 54 of them struck out.
Dharma Murray
Senior, Key West
Catcher
Dharma Murray did a stellar job covering the plate this season with a near-perfect .984 fielding percentage. The USF-bound catcher batted .306 this season, racking up 22 hits including five doubles and 21 RBIs.
Isabella Franco
Senior, Key West
Second Base
Isabella Franco batted .475 this season, logging a whopping 29 hits for the Lady Conchs. Her .536 on base percentage was one of the team’s best and in the field, she earned a .958 fielding percentage including a double play this season.
Ty Marie Cervantes
Senior, Key West
Shortstop
With 26 hits including a home run to her name, it is not surprising that Cervantes was signed by Miami Dade College to play ball there next spring. Her .382 batting average included five doubles, and she stole five bases this season.
Scarlet Niles
Junior, Key West
Center Fielder
Niles led the Lady Conchs in hits this season with 37, including five doubles and three triples. Her .457 batting average struck fear in opposing teams’ pitchers, and once she made it to base, that fear transferred to the rest of the defense – Niles stole 16 bases in her 2023 campaign.
Madelyn Perusse
Senior, Key West
Right Fielder
Perusse was a skilled outfielder for the Conchs, but it would be her offensive play that made her a standout this season. With six doubles, a triple and a home run to her credit, the .403-hitting senior also stole 10 bases and is credited with 17 RBIs. Her extra base hits boosted her slugging percentage to .567.
