Somerset Silver Palms’ chase for first state title ends in frustrating semifinal loss
Somerset Silver Palms’ softball team may not seem like overachievers considering it was a state runner-up just a year ago.
But after losing some key players to graduation, the Stallions relied on a lot of younger, inexperienced ones to return to the state tournament this week.
Those factors finally caught up to them during a frustrating 8-7 loss to Montverde Academy in a Class 3A state semifinal on Tuesday night at the Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont, Fla.
“We overachieved, I thought,” Somerset coach Gator Rebhan said. “I didn’t anticipate us being in that position. We played great pitching the last three games before we played Coral Springs Charter (in the regional final). We hit Montverde really well. Our bats were on fire. We had opportunities to win that game, if we hadn’t made a few baserunning mistakes.”
Somerset (22-7-1), which entered the final four as the No. 4 seed, kept itself even for most of the game with the top-seeded Eagles (27-4).
There were six lead changes in the game and the Stallions erased a pair of one-run deficits in the sixth and seventh innings, but could not muster the go-ahead run.
Brigitte Valdera, who came up with a clutch home run in Somerset’s regional final against Coral Springs Charter last week, leveled the game at 7 with a game-tying single in the top of the seventh. But with a runner at third, Zoey Mateo popped up in the field for the second out of the inning. The runner came off the bag and was doubled up by Montverde to end the inning.
Somerset starter Ava Stevens, who tossed six innings, was unable to record an out in the seventh and a throwing error at third base led to the walk-off run scoring for the Eagles.
Stevens gave up all eight runs on 16 hits and four walks and struck out two.
Valdera led the Stallions at the plate, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Seventh-grader Caylee Cerda went 1 for 4 with a home run. Taylor Rebhan and Leilani Gonzalez each had an RBI as well.
“They fought hard and we had a great season,” Rebhan said. “Stevens got the experience as a pitcher and this will give her a whole offseason to get better.”
This story was originally published May 22, 2024 at 12:25 PM.
