American Heritage’s softball state title hopes crushed in lopsided loss to Baker County
American Heritage’s softball program ranks among the most successful in state history.
But it’s been six years since the Patriots have been able to hoist a state championship trophy.
After Wednesday’s outcome in a Class 4A state semifinal, Heritage will have to wait a little longer.
The Patriots’ title hopes were crushed after a 10-0 mercy rule loss in six innings to Glen St. Mary Baker County at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont, Fla.
Heritage (18-11) failed to add to its eight state titles all-time, which leads all South Florida teams and ranks third in state history behind Naples and Bartow.
The Patriots stayed even in a scoreless tie with Baker County heading into the fourth inning. But then the Wildcats (21-5) struck for four runs off Heritage starter Koda Travers.
Karis Richardson drove in the first two runs on a double and Mallory Jackson followed with a two-run single.
Baker County added five more in the fifth and one more in the sixth to earn the walk-off victory.
Travers was lifted after Jackson’s hit. Only one of the runs was earned, but she gave up three hits and three walks and struck out three.
Seventh-grader Lyric Rodriguez gave up five earned runs over 1⅓ innings, striking out two.
Analie Diaz had a double and Arianna Reynolds had a single to account for Heritage’s only runs in the game.
Baker County will next face Eustis for the state title on Thursday at 7 p.m.
