American Heritage softball watches lead and state-title hopes evaporate in 4A semifinal

American Heritage appeared to be in control ahead six runs and nine outs from earning the opportunity to compete for another state softball championship.

Such was not the case on Thursday afternoon as their opponent, Brooksville Hernando, scored seven runs over the final three innings and dealt the Patriots a 9-8 loss in a Class 4A state semifinal at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont.

Heritage (15-9) fell short in its bid to win its ninth state title overall, which would have moved the Patriots into second place on the FHSAA’s all-time list. Hernando (26-4) is seeking its first state title and will play Eustis on Friday in what will be its first state-final appearance since 2000.

“Somewhere in the game when we were up six runs, our team took a deep breath, and you can’t do that until the game is over,” American Heritage coach Marty Cooper said.

The Patriots had 13 hits in the game highlighted by senior third baseman Halle Roach going 3 for 3 with two RBI. Hernando also had 13 hits but was aided by two costly Heritage errors, one of which came in the first inning when the Leopards took a 2-0 lead.

Heritage responded with eight runs over the next three frames including five in the third inning, which was capped by a two-run home run by Roach, an LSU signee.

Morgan Laidler delivered a two-run single, and Marissa Thompson, Molly Mason and Adrianna Crespo each had RBI singles in the inning. Sophomore Emily Legette, Mason and Crespo each had two hits. Laidler, Crespo and Roach each had two RBI.

But after the fourth, the Patriots couldn’t muster any more runs off Hernando senior Olivia Townsend, who pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief. She struck out six and walked one.

Meanwhile, the Leopards chipped away against Thompson scoring once in the fifth on an RBI double by sophomore Savannah Ellis, three runs in the sixth on two wild pitches and an RBI groundout, and three more in the seventh capped by a two-out triple by junior Solaris Genberg.

Townsend allowed one baserunner in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out the side.

“They made plays late in the game to keep us from punching another couple runs across,” Cooper said. “It’s really on us. We need to do a better job and not give up extra outs.”

Heritage had only three seniors on its roster, and Cooper praised the team’s resilience after starting the season 1-7 against mostly perennial state championship contenders.

“We played one of the toughest schedules in the country and that reflected in our record,” Cooper said. “That’s why it took us a while to get our feet under us and when we finally did we played well. We had this game in hand, and we didn’t take care of it. You don’t get many opportunities, and we let this one slip away.”