Palmetto softball picking up momentum as it secures another GMAC championship
Miami Palmetto has a rich softball legacy having won three state championships and 12 regional titles overall.
But the Panthers haven’t won a state title since 2008 and their past three trips to the state final four have ended in the semifinal round including last year’s 17-2 loss to eventual champion Lakewood Ranch.
Palmetto wants to end that drought this season.
As such, the Panthers put together a challenging schedule in the hopes of preparing themselves for the tough competition that lies ahead in the upcoming postseason.
Palmetto seems to be clicking at the right time as it showed once again on Thursday when it beat longtime rival Coral Reef 4-2 to secure the GMAC championship at Palmetto Bay Park.
“I wanted them to be prepped and play the best and the girls have stepped up,” Palmetto coach Emilio Exposito said. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but now we’re clicking and that’s always the right time.”
The Panthers (13-8) avenged last year’s defeat in the tournament final against the Barracudas (10-11) and won the GMAC championship for the eighth time since 2007.
The teams met in the GMAC final for the fourth consecutive time (there was no tournament played in 2020 due to COVID-19) with the Panthers winning for the third time during that span.
Palmetto, which has faced state powerhouses such as Cooper City and American Heritage and will take on Wellington next week before heading into districts, won its sixth consecutive game.
“We had a pretty rough start to the season so wins like this prove that this team has what it takes,” senior pitcher Melody Vizcaino said. “This team just needed to lock in emotionally and get the job done.”
Vizcaino, who recently signed with St. Thomas University, gave up six hits overall - all singles - while striking out five and walking just one batter over seven innings.
Coral Reef, which was led by Brianna Perantoni and Jordan Ives who scored its two runs, loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with two outs before Vizcaino (8-3) shut the door by inducing a pop-up to end the game.
Leadoff hitter and junior shortstop Sophia Wylie led Palmetto going 2 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored while senior right fielder Alexis Ortega went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
Junior third baseman Daniela David had the big hit during a three-run Palmetto first inning with a two-run double.
“We didn’t see a lot of hits (from other teams) last year so our defense wasn’t as ready,” Wylie said. “This year, the ball is coming off the bats a lot quicker and our defense is playing better and making us better as a whole.”
