Orange City University escapes Kissimmee Klassic still perfect
Windermere Prep carries win streak
Orange City University’s softball team remained undefeated this weekend after emerging from the Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic as Gold Division champion.
The Titans (15-0) won 7-0 against St. Petersburg Canterbury (9-8) following pool-play triumphs against tournament host Kissimmee Osceola (9-8), Tampa Robinson (12-3) and Viera (12-3).
Aminah Vega and Annalyn Duncan each hit home runs and pitcher Grace Taylor recorded three wins and one save during the 10-team tournament.
University plays at Winter Springs (12-6) Tuesday at 7 p.m. before hosting Volusia County rival Port Orange Spruce Creek (8-5) Thursday at 4 p.m. A return trip to Seminole County follows April 13 at Lake Mary (8-6), which lost to University 2-0 last week.
Lake Mary senior Cali Decker, a Florida signee, set a program record for most home runs in a season when she connected on her seventh this spring during an 11-0 win against DeLand (5-7) Wednesday.
Winter Springs, which entered the Kissimmee Klassic ranked No. 6 in the FHSAA Class 6A power ratings, went 2-2 in the 16-team Blue Bracket.
Senior Taylor Krapf enters Tuesday’s matchup vs. University batting .452 with 13 RBIs and eight extra-base hits for the Bears. Megan Hagge and Ashlyn Storms have combined for 120 strikeouts in 118 innings pitched.
Winter Springs rounds out its schedule over the final three weeks of the regular season with road games at Lake Howell (Thursday) and Lake Brantley (April 15) and home games against Clermont East Ridge (April 13) and DeLand (April 22).
East Ridge (13-6) avenged a 9-4 loss last month to Lake Brantley (12-4) by pulling out a 1-0 win over the Patriots to reach the Kissimmee Klassic Blue Bracket championship game. The Knights fell 2-1 in eight innings vs. unbeaten Lithia Newsome (16-0), which entered the tournament ranked No. 7 overall in the FHSAA power ratings.
Senior Madi Wicker opened the season batting .559 with 12 runs scored through the first nine games this spring for East Ridge.
Lake Brantley has split six games since opening with a one-run loss vs. University then winning nine in a row. The Patriots play the first of three games this week at Lyman (7-9) Tuesday. Road games are scheduled for Wednesday at Windemere High (8-4) and Friday at Apopka (13-3).
University (No. 6) and Lake Brantley (No. 9) each ranked in the Top 10 last week by the FHSAA among all classifications.
Lakers on a roll
Class 3A Windermere Prep (13-1) is riding a 10-game win streak entering competition this week against larger public schools.
The Lakers host Olympia (6-8) Thursday before going on the road Friday vs. Ocoee (4-9) and Monday at Windermere High. All three games are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Windermere Prep lost for the only time 4-2 against Tampa Berkeley Prep in February. The Lakers already own wins against Dr. Phillips (6-6), West Orange (8-9), Celebration (5-6) and Ocoee this season.
“It is an exciting development for our school,” Windermere Prep coach Wes Pollock said in an email. “The team culture is very good, and all [players] are contributing to our success so far this season.”
Junior pitcher Gracie Wallace threw a no-hitter while striking out 15 batters and allowing just one walk during a 2-0 win March 3 against Ocala Trinity Catholic (9-6). Wallace, who has tallied 169 strikeouts through 76 innings, is also batting .400 with one home run.
Sophomore Mia Williams leads the Lakers in doubles (8) and home runs (5) while hitting a team-best .667 (28-for-42) with 20 RBIs and 24 runs scored.