Doral’s Zabala, Palmetto’s Wylie are Miami-Dade Softball 7A-6A Pitcher, Player of the Year

It wasn’t a matter of if Alyssa Zabala was going to carry the Doral Academy softball team. It was a matter of how far her right arm could take them.

And Sophia Wylie knew her bat and glove were going to be paramount for Miami Palmetto to make a deep playoff run.

Zabala and Wylie lived up to the lofty individual expectations, and as a result are the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Softball Pitcher and Player of the Year for Classes 7A-6A.

This is the third time Zabala has been named Pitcher of the Year for the Herald and the only reason she didn’t get the honor four times is because the 2020 spring season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Louisville-bound righty has been hands-down the best pitcher in the county since she entered the circle for the first time with Doral as a freshman in 2019.

As a senior, she went 22-5 with a 0.59 ERA, six no-hitters, two perfect games and a staggering 299 strikeouts in 165 2/3 innings as Doral made it to the Class 6A title game only to fall 1-0 to Melbourne.

Over her four-year career, Zabala had a 0.70 ERA with 634 strikeouts in 423 innings. She threw 10 no-hitters, including four perfect games. Doral won its first state title in school history in 2021 in Zabala’s junior year and made at least the state final four in Zabala’s other two years that the state series took place.

She’s learned how to remain composed and confident in any situation and not let tough moments faze her.

“When things go crazy on the mound, I kind of just take a deep breath and I just gather myself up and pick up my confidence,” Zabala said. “I feel like batters can sense confidence on the mound so if you’re confident you’re just gonna psych out the batters.”

That will be key for her moving forward as she heads to Louisville and plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I’m really good at playing up to competition,” Zabala said, “so when I’m playing a better team, I rise to the occasion.”

Like Zabala, Wylie found a way to rise to the occasion this season as well. The junior was nearly unstoppable at the plate for Palmetto this season, hitting .526 with 18 RBI, 12 doubles, three triples and 37 runs scored to help the Panthers reach the Class 7A regional finals.

“There were very high expectations on me this season, and I couldn’t be focused on that,” Wylie said. “I had to play my game and play how I know and try not to do too much.”

And while her offensive stats are eye-popping, Wylie takes more pride in her defense at shortstop.

“I enjoy every single game being able to back up my pitcher,” Wylie said, adding the position is where she “feels home.”

Why does she love the position so much?

“It’s the captain of the infield,” Wylie said. “I get to direct everything on the infield. I like having that leadership position, making sure everyone’s in line and pretty much being the mom of the infield.”

She started playing the sport when she was 7 years old and said the sport has become her safe haven.

It’s also going to help her for the future. She’s committed to play collegiately at Florida Gulf Coast University.

“Softball has given me pretty much everything I could ask for,” Wylie said.