In Tuesday's regional semifinals, four local teams secured their spots in the Florida High School Athletic Association softball finals. Each squad showed its strength in different ways.
A last-minute hit gave Bishop Verot a thrilling 6-5 win over Berkeley Prep. On the mound, Crimson Lawrence struck out 11 players before stepping up to bat for the game-winner. "Yeah, that was the game right there," Verot coach Chris Gatewood told News-Press.
The Red Knights of North Fort Myers shut out Charlotte 10-0, ending the game in just five innings. A messy fourth inning saw Charlotte make four mistakes, giving up nine runs. Abby Hynes kicked off the scoring with a blast over the fence in the first.
Down 3-1 early, Fort Myers turned the tables on Northeast with nine straight runs, winning 14-4. Gianni Torres crushed a three-run shot and finished with five runs driven in.
"My mentality always is, 'What do I need to do to get my team ahead?'" Torres said. "Our energy always stays up, no matter if we're low or if we're high."
In a quick five-inning contest, Evangelical Christian beat Southwest Florida Christian Academy 11-1. Hayden Billie was sharp on the mound, giving up three hits while striking out six. Kee Green ended things with a sprint around the bases for an inside-the-park homer.
Local rivals will face off as Fort Myers visits North Fort Myers in a district final rematch. Bishop Verot will travel to face Calvary Christian, while ECS stays home against Shorecrest Prep.
