Broward softball teams hit road

JOE RIMKUS JR. / MIAMI HERALD STAFF Pines Charter, USA Today's No. 1, is the only team playing at its home field for regionals.

Whereas the theme of last Friday's regional semifinals was ''the rematch'' with four games pitting district champions versus the teams they beat just a week earlier, the theme of Tuesday's regional championships could be ``the road trip.''

Four of Broward's five remaining softball teams venture out of the county, with just Pembroke Pines Charter -- the nation's top-ranked softball team by USA Today -- at its home field.

Last week, the Jaguars (28-0) got an unexpected tough challenge in a 3-0 victory over Archbishop McCarthy, a team they beat twice by a six-run margin earlier in the season.

Perhaps the focus was elsewhere for Pines Charter. After all, buses were en route to Orlando and Grad Night prior to the game's conclusion.

''I've got to commend them,'' Jaguars coach Tom Fadul said. 'I didn't hear one word about it before the game or during the game. It was straight, `Let's play the game.' I was very impressed with that. They were mature enough to think softball and not even think about [Grad Night], when you know that's where they wanted to be.''

Pines Charter gets another familiar team in the regional championship when Jensen Beach (21-6) visits Silver Lakes Park. The Jaguars routed Jensen Beach 10-0 on March 7.

OTHER TEAMS

Cooper City (20-8) won four straight since a 3-0 loss to Pines Charter in the regular season, including a pair of one-run victories over district 12-6A rival Flanagan. The Cowboys shuffled their line-up throughout the season due to various injuries, but the offense solidified with the healthy return of missing players and the shift of shortstop Laura Fountain from first to third in the order.

''That's her spot right there,'' Cowboys coach Kerry Kelly said. ``The No. 3 spot is Laura's spot. That's where she's able to drive in some runs and get some RBI.

``. . . Right before playoffs, once we got all our team healthy, we just went back to the basic line-up and stopped playing around and stopped trying to be cute and do what works.''

Cooper City will face Palm Beach Gardens (28-4, winners of 14 in a row) on the road at 7.

St. Thomas Aquinas (24-4) is on the road for the second consecutive game, this time at Palm Beach Dwyer (21-8). The Raiders won each of their regional games by one run.

American Heritage (18-10) heads south to face Gulliver Prep (22-5). The Raiders eliminated Heritage in each of the past two seasons.

Zion Lutheran (9-7) exacted revenge on Fort Lauderdale Christian with a 6-5 victory last week after losing the previous match-up in the district championship game. The Lions' reward is a date with undefeated Lake Worth Christian (24-0).

The winners all advance to next week's FHSAA Finals in Plant City.

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

SOFTBALL

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLASS 6A

Cooper City at Palm Beach Gardens, 7

CLASS 5A

St. Thomas Aquinas at Dwyer, 7

CLASS 4A

Jensen Beach at Pembroke Pines Charter (Silver Lakes Park), 7

CLASS 3A

American Heritage at Gulliver Prep (Florida Christian), 7

CLASS 1A

Zion Lutheran at Lake Worth Christian, 4