Western’s softball state title repeat bid denied in frustrating semifinal loss

The bid for a repeat just needed a tad more offense.

Class 7A defending state champion Western came up a run short in its bid for a second straight trip to the state title game, dropping a 4-3 semifinal to Oviedo Hagerty on Friday at Solider’s Creek Park.

“We fell a little short,” Western coach John Bradshaw said. “Some teams have to win and some teams have to lose. But at the end of the day, we just weren’t good enough this year. We have to go back to work and hope we get back here next year.

“We left runners at third two or three times (in the game). If we had a base hit here or there, maybe it’s a different game. But at the end of the day, we have to get three outs and they have to get three outs and they were just a better team today.”

Western senior pitcher Ali Solo, who shut out Seminole a year ago in the state title game, went the distance again, but this time taking the loss, despite holding Hagerty scoreless for the final four innings.

“I just wanted to win. We all wanted to win,” Solo said. “I usually handle pressure situations pretty well. I guess the experience helps a little bit with the nerves.

“We did a lot of research on them so we kind of knew who to throw to and things like that. I think it was more so us just needing run support early.”

Solo, who is signed with Florida Southwestern, gave up four runs – two earned – on five hits and five walks. She struck out six through six innings of work. The damage came early with Hagerty taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Alexis Felker, and an error on the play which brought home the second run.

Hagerty (24-6) pushed its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third, with Felker delivering the big hit again, this time an RBI double. From there, Solo completely slammed the door on Hagerty, and the Western (20-6-1) comeback began.

“She is a warrior,” Bradshaw said. “There are coaches all over the country that would love to have Ali Solo on their team. She never gives up. Whatever the score is, she is going to go out there and do her job.”

Western narrowed the gap to 4-1 in the top of the fifth, getting an RBI single from Katarina Kuma. In the sixth, Western narrowed the lead to 4-3 on a two-run double by Analie Diaz.

“I trusted God before the game and He led me into that hit,” Diaz said. “I got the pitch that I was looking for, inside and down the middle. I knew that first pitch was going to be there and I just had to wait, stay back and hit it. We are a fighting team and we will be here next year.”

Western threatened one last time in the seventh when Gia Solano singled with one out but Hagerty pitcher Ella Verne struck out the final two Western hitters to end the game. She went the distance for the win, yielding three runs on six hits and a walk. She struck out eight.

Hagerty will face Wellington in the 7A state championship game Saturday at 5 p.m. Wellington advanced after knocking off Sarasota 15-0 in a four-inning mercy rule game.