American advances to GMAC softball final for first time
For the first time in school history, the American softball team will advance to the GMAC finals after shutting out Southwest 18-0 in the semifinals Tuesday afternoon at Palmetto Bay Park.
“We’ve been playing at our best ability this season,” Patriots assistant coach Aayeskayel Guilles said about this young team, which is composed of mostly sophomores and juniors.
In the first round, American (15-8) defeated South Dade 16-8. Junior Karla Soza went 2 for 3 with two singles and two RBI, and junior Ashleigh Acosta went 2 for 4 with two singles and three RBI.
Senior Phea Ramirez went 4 for 4 with two home runs and two doubles, with seven RBI in a losing effort for South Dade.
The Patriots will face Palmetto (19-4) in the GMAC finals at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Palmetto Bay Park.
The Panthers defeated TERRA 17-5 in the first round and shut out Miami Springs 15-0 in the semifinals.
▪ American 16, South Dade 8:
SD 1 2 0 3 0 2 0 — 8 10 7
AME 1 0 8 0 0 7 X — 16 9 2
WP: Ashley Alfonso (14-8), 7 IP, 8 K’s, BB. Karla Soza 2-3, 2 1B, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Ashleigh Acosta 2-4, 2 1B, 3 RBI, BB. Ashley Alonso 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI. SD: Phea Ramirez 4-4, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI. SD 14-8.
▪ American 18, Southwest 0:
SW 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 6
AME 1 6 2 6 — 16 8 0
WP: Ashley Alfonso (15-8), 4 IP, 2 H, K. Pyenna Colon 2-3, 2 1B, RBI, BB. Kacey Gonzalez 2-3, 2 1B, 2 RBI. Natalie Galbis 1-1, 2 RBI. AME 15-8.
▪ Palmetto 17, TERRA 5:
TER 0 0 5 0 0 — 5 9 0
PAL 13 4 0 0 — 17 13 0
WP: Daijaa Williams (7-1). Hannah Burge 3-3, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI. Alyssa Vincent 3-4, 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI. Jayla Digennaro 2-3, R, 3 RBI. PAL 18-4.
▪ Palmetto 15, Miami Springs 0:
MS 0 0 0 — 0 1 4
PAL 14 0 1 — 15 12 0
WP: Brittany Barczak (5-3). Brittany Phillips 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI. Lauren Margolis 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI. Jayla Digennaro 2-3, 2B, 3 R, RBI. PAL 19-4.
This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 10:33 PM with the headline "American advances to GMAC softball final for first time."