Unlikely hero propels Doral Academy softball back to the state championship game

Trailing 2-1 with its season on the line in the bottom of the seventh inning, Doral Academy found heroics from an unlikely source.

Eighth-grade designated player Gabriella D’Arcangelo, who struggled offensively this season, faced a 1-2 count with runners on second and third. The situation did not faze her.

D’Arcangelo laced a single through the left side of the infield to plate both runners and lead the Firebirds to a 3-2 victory over New Port Richey Mitchell in a Class 6A semifinal at Legends Way Ballfields.

“It’s really nerve-racking, but you just have to take a deep breath, tell yourself you got this and have the confidence,” D’Arcangelo said.

Down to his last at-bat, Doral coach Willie Viruet never wavered in the decision to allow his youngster, who struck the ball well in the batting cages prior to the game, the plate appearance.

“I kind of knew she was having a good day,” said Viruet, whose team won its first state championship a year ago. “. . . She hasn’t really hit the ball well this season. It was just a gut feeling I had to keep her in there and give her the at bat. It’s crazy to have to wait to the last possible out of the whole game to come through, but it was a great game.”

Giovana Gurgel drew a one-out walk to start the rally for the Firebirds (24-4-1). Zoey Abdullah reached first on a bunt, and Isabella Pavlou – running for Gurgel – advanced to third on a throwing error on the play. Abdullah stole second and Arianna Machado struck out to queue up D’Arcangelo’s game-winner.

Mitchell (19-9) built a 2-0 lead in the fourth without the ball ever leaving the infield. Kinnah Kreidler was hit by a pitch to open the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Alexis Barber reached on an error after a bunt attempt, and two runs scored on a fielding error by Zabala on another attempted bunt.

Zabala locked in after the play, however, and retired 10 of the final 11 batters.

“I just felt like I was getting too hyped,” said Zabala, who finished with 10 strike outs. “I was getting too into my head. I just kind of had to relax, focus and get in my little bubble. When you’re pitching, you just have to close yourself off to the rest of the game.”

Doral advances to play Melbourne (25-2-1) Saturday afternoon at 3. The Firebirds tied Melbourne in the Orange Bowl Classic in April.

“That was a battle royale,” Viruet said of the first meeting with Melbourne. “Going eight innings in a 1-1 game and leaving it a tie kind of leaves that kind of taste in your mouth that you want to play them again.”