Coral Reef tops Palmetto, wins third consecutive softball title
Carsyn Gordon can feel it.
Like most of Coral Reef’s senior-laden softball team, there is a sense of urgency and willingness to do anything it takes to bring home another state championship.
Gordon, the team’s starting third baseman, was asked to pitch in a tough spot Thursday in the GMAC championship game against rival Palmetto.
The FSU-bound senior struggled early, but composed herself in the latter innings while also hitting two home runs that helped Coral Reef edge Palmetto 7-6 in eight innings and win its third consecutive GMAC championship.
“I pitched against Pines Charter recently, and that was my first time pitching in like two years,” Gordon said. “We all have the hunger and fight within us this season because we know this is it.”
After rallying from an early four-run deficit, Coral Reef loaded the bases in the eighth. Cristina Colli dropped a bloop single just inside the left-field line that drove in the winning run.
Coral Reef (21-4) defeated rival Palmetto for a staggering 13th consecutive time over the past three seasons. The Barracudas will likely face Palmetto (18-6) again in next week’s district playoffs and could meet again in the regional playoffs, which would make it three consecutive years the teams would meet five times in a season.
“It’s never hard to get up for this game against Palmetto,” Gordon said. “It’s always a good game, and the rivalry gets better every year.”
PAL 014 010 00 - 6
CR 100 230 01 – 7
WP: Carsyn Gordon (2-0). LP: Brittany Barczak.
This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 10:43 PM with the headline "Coral Reef tops Palmetto, wins third consecutive softball title."