Western softball back in state final after FIU commit throws gem in semifinal
Western’s softball players knew just how tough Cheyanne Chaffin was whenever they faced her in the past.
This season, the Wildcats have been happy to have her on their side.
And on Tuesday, Chaffin was dealing in the circle during her first ever appearance at the state final four.
Chaffin, an FIU commit, struck out seven, walked one and allowed five hits over seven shutout innings to lead Western to a 4-0 win over Clermont East Ridge in a Class 7A state semifinal at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood.
“A baller, and super competitor,” Western coach Johnny Bradshaw said when describing Chaffin, who transferred to Western this season after previously pitching at rival West Broward. “She’s just an old school mentality player. She brought stability and commitment and drive.”
The Wildcats (24-5) advanced to the state final for the third consecutive season, and will try to win their second state title over that span when they take on Oviedo Hagerty (26-4) at 1 on Wednesday.
Hagerty, which blanked Jupiter 7-0 in the other 7A semifinal on Tuesday, denied Western a repeat last year when it eliminated the Wildcats in the state semifinals.
“We know a little bit (about them), and I’m sure they’re going to give us a whole different look than last year as we will to them,” Bradshaw said. “But we’re super excited about the opportunity.”
In addition to Chaffin’s pitching brilliance, Western earned the rematch thanks to some solid defense and an ability to put pressure on their East Ridge counterparts by putting the ball in play consistently.
Freshman Kylie Diaz put Western on the board in the top of the second with a clutch, two-out single.
The Wildcats clung to that 1-0 advantage thanks to Chaffin keeping East Ridge (27-3) at bay until the top of the seventh when they added three insurance runs.
“We have some girls that know what it takes to get there,” Bradshaw said. “We’ve won it once, lost it once and now we’re back. They know what it takes to grind things out. Cheyanne has fit in perfectly and done everything that coaches have asked her to do.”
Freshman Julie Rodriguez, who led Western at the plate with two hits, got things started with an infield single. Senior Izzy Baron then dropped a sacrifice bunt, but East Ridge’s first baseman Brianna Santos dropped the throw to first, setting up runners at the corners and no outs.
After Baron stole second, Diaz dropped another bunt, allowing Rodriguez to score. Senior Hanna Turner, a Saint Leo University commit, hit a grounder to third, but East Ridge’s Grayson DeMartino overthrew first, allowing Baron and courtesy runner Katarina Kuma to score.
“It’s usually who makes the error or errors that cost them the game and that’s what happened,” Bradshaw said. “This team is built around defense. Some people don’t think that’s the case anymore, but I don’t believe in that.”
