Softball Roundup: Coral Springs Charter Has Shot At History

SFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

Coral Springs Charter has a shot at history this week at the Florida High School Softball State Championships at historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

The defending 4A state champion, making its Class 5A debut in Friday's semifinal game against Bushnell South Sumter, could become only the fourth Broward County team to win back-to-back titles in the sport's history.

Coral Springs Charter coach Mark Montimurro has first-hand experience knowing just how hard it is to repeat.

In 2003 and 2004, the 18-year coaching veteran guided Hollywood Christian to back-to-back state titles.

Now the Panthers (23-3), making their second consecutive Final Four appearance, can join Hollywood Christian along with American Heritage Plantation and St. Thomas Aquinas on the elite list.

"This is more difficult because of the dynamics of the two schools and student entrance," Montimurro said. "We don't have the same luxury at Hollywood Christian where if kids want to come, they sign up. Here there is a lottery and you hope the kids who want to play here get in. It's really hard, we play tougher schools. It's a tougher road."

Coral Springs Charter advanced into the state tournament with an impressive 11-1, five-inning victory over Gulliver Prep in the Region 4-5A final for one of the biggest victories in the program's history. Gulliver Prep is a four-time state champion (2010-2013).

Junior Ally Muraskin pitched a one-hitter, struck out 11, gave up one unearned run, hit back-to-back home runs with Gianna Boccagno and had three RBIs. Muraskin (21-3) has already committed to Central Florida. Skylar Fairchild was 2-for-4 with one RBI and Amanda Flynn was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

It was the second consecutive time the Panthers have beaten Gulliver Prep.

"Last year it was important to beat them, to get over the hump," Montimurro said. "We could never beat them. This year to do it so convincingly was a little bit awkward. I thought the game would be a lot closer."

The Panthers returned most of its key players off last year's undefeated (29-0-1) state champion but were faced with adversity when the team's top player and senior third baseman Kayla Scaperrotta, headed for Northern Illinois, was sidelined with a shoulder injury in the tenth game of the season. Another senior starter and second baseman, Barbara Vega, was lost to a knee injury and illness.

"We don't have a lot of depth," Montimurro said. "There was some uncertainty with the less experienced players in those positions. I didn't know what to expect but the girls plugging in are doing a good job."

In the last two games, freshman Shannon Doherty has come up with two key hits and moved from ninth to sixth in the lineup.

Coral Springs Charter has already defeated South Sumter, 3-0, during the regular season despite playing without three starters during a spring break tournament in Brooksville. South Sumter graduated eight seniors off last year's team.

"They have a very good pitcher, we struggled with her," Montimurro said. "The way I look at it is we have to do what we do best. We create runs, are aggressive on the bases and force other teams to make mistakes. We push the envelope."

The Panthers' three losses were to American Heritage Plantation, Palm Beach Gardens and Western. They beat St. Thomas Aquinas, Cooper City and Park Vista and won the Speedball Classic at Silver Lakes West.

"We loaded up our schedule which really prepared us for this," Montimurro said. "Veteran teams have a lot of juniors and seniors which make a difference when you go back a second and third time. This is uncharted territory for us. I think the toughest part of winning a state championship is winning your region. It's never easy. We know it's going to be a war up there."

South Florida will be well-represented at the state tournament. Joining Coral Springs Charter, the only returning state champion from Broward or Dade, are American Heritage Plantation, St. Thomas Aquinas, Western, Miami Palmetto and Westminster Christian.

In other region finals:
Region 4-9A - Palmetto 12, American High 1: The Panthers (25-4) are looking for their fourth state title and first since 2008. Hannah Burge had a two-run single and Carly Herskowitz had an RBI-single.

Region 3-9A - Western 2, Jupiter 1: The Wildcats (23-6) are returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2003. Senior pitcher and Florida State-bound Sydney Bates improved to 20-3. Katie Fletcher hit a home run and Madi Napoles added an RBI double to spark a fifth-inning rally.

Region 4-8A - St. Thomas Aquinas 5, Cooper City 0: Raiders pitcher and Babson College-bound Brooke Stock improved to 17-4 and gave up three hits for the Raiders (22-4).

Region 4-6A - American Heritage Plantation 4, Rockledge 1: Senior pitcher and Columbia-bound Madison Canby improved to 17-1 and Hannah Sipos hit a home run and had two RBIs for the Patriots (24-2).

Region 4-4A - Westminster Christian 12, Calvary Christian 3: The Miami team (21-5) is returning to the state tournament which it won two years ago and lost in the final last year. Junior leadoff hitter and Mississippi-commit Ally Mena got on base three times, scored two runs and had an RBI double. Brooklyn Maguire had a home run, double and scored two runs. Pitcher Victoria Perez (13-5) struck out eight.

FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, MAY 4-7
At Historic Dodgertown, Vero Beach

Semifinal Schedule
Class 9A: Friday, Western vs. West Orange, 6:35 p.m.; Miami Palmetto vs. Alonso, 7:50 p.m.
Class 8A: Friday, 5:20 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Countryside
Class 6A: Friday, 12:20 p.m., American Heritage Plantation vs. Land O'Lakes
Class 5A: Friday, 9:50 a.m., Coral Springs Charter vs. South Sumter
Class 4A: Wednesday, 4:50 p.m., Westminster Christian vs. Montverde