Somerset Academy’s Diaz strikes out 17 in regional softball quarterfinal
Senior Caitlyn Diaz has been a driving force for the Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy softball team in recent years.
She proved clutch once again on Wednesday night, striking out 17 batters and driving in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Panthers to a 1-0 victory over Jensen Beach in a Region 4-4A softball quarterfinal at Somerset Academy.
The Panthers (13-12) advance to the regional finals and will next travel to play at Key West.
Diaz allowed just one hit over eight innings and walked two. In the eighth, she drove in senior Khrystin Tolley with the winning run. Diaz had two hits while junior Ava De La Cruz and senior Katie Bailey each had a double.
Region 4-4A quarterfinal - American Heritage 11, Naples Barron Collier 0: Samantha Santana had a double and four RBI to lead the Patriots (15-4), who will next host Okeechobee at 7 on Tuesday. Adrianna Layne had four hits, including a double, and an RBI. Lyric Rodriguez had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Isabella Benton struck out four, walked one and allowed one hit over five innings.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - St. Brendan 10, Calvary Christian 5: The Sabres (10-11) broke a 5-5 tie with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to advance to the regional semifinals where they will face Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night at 7. Liz Suarez had a double, a triple and three RBI to lead St. Brendan while Brooke Bertot had two hits, including a triple, and two RBI.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Cardinal Gibbons 10, Mater Lakes 0 (5): Madison Leonard struck out eight and Lydia Berent struck out two on a combined five-inning perfect game for the Chiefs (25-1). Skylar Flack drove in four runs, and Reese Randall had four hits, including a double, and an RBI. Gia Schirripa had three hits and an RBI, and Sloane Schaeffer had a hit and two RBI.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Somerset Silver Palms 9, Naples Aubrey Rogers 1: Ava Stevens threw a two-hitter, allowing no earned runs, while striking out nine and issuing two walks to lead the Stallions (21-5). Caylee Cerda had three hits, including a double and three RBI, and Layla Ortiz had a three-run triple. Somerset will next host Coral Springs Charter on Tuesday at 6 at Palmetto Bay Park.
Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Coral Springs Charter 17, Pompano Beach 0 (3): Cameron Thiele had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI to lead the Panthers (19-4). Chloe Koenig had two hits and two RBI and Alyson Vincze had two hits and RBI. Amaya Martinez had a hit and two RBI. Courtney Wahlbrink struck out six over three no-hit innings.
Region 4-2A quarterfinal - West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 13, Florida Christian 3 (6): The Patriots (22-3) saw a promising season ended prematurely due largely to six costly errors and an inability to slow down the visiting Crusaders’ lineup.
Trailing 5-0 in the top of the third, Florida Christian answered with its three runs starting with an RBI double by Shaun Fernandez, who would come around to score on an error. Danbee Kim scored on a wild pitch moments later. But two innings later, Newman would strike for two more runs on a double by Izzy Luna that was compounded by a bobble in the infield. The Crusaders prompted the mercy rule after scoring six more in the top of the sixth and holding the Patriots scoreless in the bottom half.
Region 4-1A quarterfinal - Schoolhouse Prep 14, Mater Bay Academy 1: Michelle Dominguez had two doubles and three RBI to lead the Wolfpack (14-11), who will next host Vero Beach Masters Academy on Tuesday at 7. Dulce Palacios and Sofia Villa each had two hits and two RBI. Analys Uriarte struck out six over 3 2/3 innings.
Region 4-1A quarterfinal - Miami Christian 15, West Palm Beach Berean Christian 0: Renata Silva struck out 11 and walked one over four innings to lead the Victors (12-7), who will next host Westminster Academy on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30. Silvas and Maria Jose Vargas each had two hits and Johari Askew had two RBI.
Region 4-1A quarterfinal - Westminster Academy 6, AIE Charter 3: The Lions (10-15) prevailed despite committing five errors. Westminster broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the sixth. Myah Miller struck out five, but walked five and allowed two earned runs. Gianna Rivero and Riley Rutherford each had two doubles and two RBI. Camy Lau had two hits including a double and an RBI and Christine Baust had a triple.
MORE SCORES
Region 4-4A quarterfinals: Okeechobee 8, Archbishop McCarthy 3; Key West 15, Lourdes 0
Region 4-2A quarterfinals - Fort Pierce John Carroll 9, Palmer Trinity 0; West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy 7, Westminster Christian 1; West Palm Beach Kings Academy 12, Chaminade 2 (6).
