Western’s Solo and Aquinas’ D’Agostino are the Broward 7A-6A Softball Players of the Year
Ali Solo’s goal of leading the Western softball team to a state championship became a reality.
Christina D’Agostino hopes to do something similar very soon at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Along the way, each of them dominated the competition on their respective teams on their way to earning the Miami Herald’s top softball honors for Classes 7A-6A in Broward County.
Solo, a junior, is the Class 7A-6A Pitcher of the Year after helping the Wildcats win their second-ever state championship and first since 2018.
D’Agostino is the Class 7A-6A Player of the Year after leading the Raiders to the Class 6A regional finals.
For Solo, it was continuing a family legacy started by her older sister, Alyssa, who previously pitched for Western. Alyssa Solo experienced what it was like winning a state title her freshman season.
This year, it was Ali’s turn.
“Winning the state championship really meant everything considering that these girls are family to me,” Solo said. “They put in so much work. It took us a while and ending like we did was the only outcome we saw.”
Solo, a junior, went 17-4 with 178 strikeouts in 155.1 innings and compiled a 1.26 ERA while leading the Wildcats to the Class 7A championship. Solo picked up the wins in the victories at state against Jupiter in the semifinals and a 2-0 shutout in the state final against Sanford Seminole, in which she tossed a two-hitter while striking out nine.
“It felt amazing getting the shutout and there’s no better feeling,” Solo said. “I gained so much confidence. I was so proud of my team.”
D’Agostino, a junior shortstop, had one of the best hitting seasons in recent memory by a Broward softball player.
She hit .432 with 13 home runs and finished with 35 runs scored and 42 RBI. Her efforts helped the Raiders finish 17-10-2 after navigating a challenging schedule and defying the odds to come within one victory of a state final four appearance. D’Agostino will return next season poised to help Aquinas clear that next hurdle.
“I felt at the beginning of the year everyone doubted us. At the end we started working together well as a team,” D’Agostino said. “I focused more on softball instead of the aspect of doing good in front of everybody. I focused on hitting and trying to win the game for my team.”
