March got off to a near-perfect start for the Keys’ three softball squads in early-season matchups last week.
Coral Shores lost at Academy for Innovative Education on March 4 despite an impressive display of force at the plate. Kayden Costlow had three hits while Mira Jones added three RBIs from a triple and a home run. The ’Canes amassed nine hits, but the Aviators managed a dozen to defeat Coral Shores 18-11. Presley Bagwell and Alyvia Prince shared time pitching, combining for eight strikeouts.
Things were different in front of a home crowd two days later. Prince tossed a no-hitter against Ransom Everglades, striking out half a dozen batters in three innings. Prince then went on the offensive, launching three hits in her three at-bats, including a triple. Chloie Stanley and Mira Jones had two hits each and Addison Grady homered in a 12-hit mercy rule win for the Hurricanes. Coral Shores’ 4-1 start this season is the best the team has seen since 2022 and all indicators point to a strong finish for the FHSAA Independent ’Canes.
Marathon put a pair of wins in the books last week, starting March 3 at Mater Bay Academy. The Dolphins beat the Rays 14-11 with 14 hits, two walks and four hit batters. Junior Anastasia Boose had the hot bat, logging a pair of doubles and a single with three RBIs. Trinity McLeod, Madelyn Thornton and Elianys Roque had two hits each in the win. Boose struck out three, walked one and gave up 18 hits, earning the win for the Fins.
On March 6, it took just three innings for the Lady Fins to roll Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart. Fourteen hits, four walks and three hit batters led to a 15-0 mercy rule victory for Marathon. Boose pitched two innings, striking out three and surrendering a single hit, then eighth-grader Sutton Sayer stepped into the circle, fanning two in one inning of work. Madelyn Thornton was perfect at the plate, combining a double and three singles for three RBIs while Boose, Shaina Robinson and Elianys Roque had two hits each for the 4-1 Fins.
Key West improved to 4-2 after a pair of wins against visiting Winter Haven last week. The Lady Conchs finished off the Blue Devils 14-4 on March 6, then blanked them the following afternoon. In game one, Arianna Garcia had the hot bat, amassing four hits in four plate appearances. Aaliyah McLeod and Shylo Sanchez had three hits each while Maicee Gage added two. Lucy Katz Homered in one of the Lady Conch’s 15 hits against the Blue Devils. Ryleigh Harnish was strong in the circle, surrendering six hits and striking out two in the mercy rule win.
The following day, Brianna Brenner earned the shutout win, striking out six, walking one and giving up five hits in seven innings of work. Gage led the team offensively with two hits, scoring twice and adding an RBI to her stats.
