Playoff softball: 5 local teams still standing in state title pursuit on road to Clermont
The first round of state playoffs has come and gone for Palm Beach County softball teams and just five remain on the road to Clermont.
Seven qualifying crews from Class 2A to 6A failed to advance to region semifinals. Meanwhile, in Class 7A, five area teams, including reigning state champion Spanish River, are still alive.
Here's a recap of Thursday's region quarterfinals:
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Wellington
The returning state semifinalist Wolverines are first in Region 3, but they were just a couple of runs away from being the first out of the race. Wellington outlasted No. 8 St. Cloud 2-0 on Thursday with another electric outing for Tori Payne. The junior gave up four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. In the fourth inning, Payne also got Wellington on the board thanks to an RBI single from senior Angelina Mangini.
Jupiter
On Tuesday, May 14, Welly will host No. 4 Jupiter, which reached the semifinals with an 11-0 shutout of No. 5 Boone.
Judging by the 4-0 lead that was hung on the Braves in the first inning, not having the home-field advantage wasn't much of a factor for the Warriors. Winning pitcher Sasha Seidel got things rolling with an RBI single before taking the circle for a 12-strikeout performance. In five innings, Seidel allowed three hits and two walks.
Palm Beach Gardens
While premier pitching sealed the win once again for No. 2 Gardens, Thursday's 6-2 win over No. 7 Osceola was a complete team effort. Backed by a 12-strikeout day for junior Sydney Shaffer, the Gators got the edge early with an RBI double from senior Madison Quinn. A two-run homer for the Kowboys created a 3-2 game in the fourth inning. Fortunately for Gardens, junior Tori Scott answered with a line drive through center field in the top of the sixth to score two teammates and send the opposition on its way.
No. 3 Centennial will make its way to Palm Beach Gardens next Tuesday for a 7 p.m. first pitch.
Park Vista
The No. 2 Cobras are looking to flip the script in the region semifinals against No. 6 Coral Reef next Tuesday. Last spring, Coral Reef surprised a top-seeded Vista team with a 9-6 second-round upset.
Vista got its chance at revenge with a 1-0 win over No. 7 Stoneman Douglas on Thursday. 2025 prospect Savanna Latone's RBI single to bat in fellow junior Katie Ristau held the Cobras over from the second inning. Latone and shortstop Isabella Golas also put in work in the field to get critical outs and deny the Eagles' advances.
Spanish River
Last spring, the Sharks made their way to a historic state championship victory after starting the tournament as the seven seed. After an 11-2 upset at No. 4 Cypress Bay, it looks like Spanish River − fifth in the region − could be in line for a repeat.
Home runs for Tamsin Scarrett and Sophia Camacho were the highlights among 12 hits on the day for River, and helpful reminders to teams down the road that the roster is still a hungry bunch. Now, the preparations begin for a big task at hand next Tuesday, when the reigning state champs will travel to No. 1 Western for the semifinals.
Whose seasons have come to an end?
Class 2A:
No. 3 John Carroll def. No. 6 Oxbridge 5-4
Class 3A:
No. 3 Westminster Christian def. No. 5 King's 11-1
No. 2 Somerset Charter def. No. 7 American Heritage-Delray 10-0
Class 4A:
No. 1 American Heritage-Plantation def. No. 8 Suncoast 1-0
No. 2 Jensen Beach def. No. 7 Dr. Joaquin Garcia 7-0
Class 6A:
No. 4 Viera def. No. 5 Seminole Ridge 5-0
No. 2 Melbourne def. No. 7 Dwyer 15-0
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County softball playoff roundup: Last 5 teams standing
