Park Vista High softball advances to state and extends win streak to 49 games
LAKE WORTH — Despite not recording a single extra-base hit, Park Vista High softball defeated Port St. Lucie-Treasure Coast 6-2 in a 7A regional final on Friday night.
The Cobras (28-0) gave Treasure Coast (14-6) a steady dose of small-ball, keeping the Titans off-balanced with a bevy of bunts and quickness on the bases. With the win, Park Vista extends its winning streak to 49 games and is now just two wins away from back-to-back state championships.
“We have a certain offensive identity, and the girls execute it pretty well,” said Park Vista coach Joe DellaRocca, who guided the Cobras to the 9A state title in 2019. “When they do, we have a good shot at being successful. We capitalize on our speed and our ability to play offense.”
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Those weren’t the only things the Cobras capitalized on.
After a scoreless first inning, Park Vista took advantage of four errors committed by Treasure Coast in the bottom half of the second.
Danielle Dougherty beat out a throw to first on a well-placed bunt and then stole second. Pitcher Chloe Fariello then reached on a ground ball and advanced to second on defensive indifference.
Bri Schanuel executed a successful bunt and an ensuing throwing error plated both Dougherty and Fariello. Emily Konz rounded out the scoring, plating Schanuel with a bunt and then scoring herself on a Treasure Coast throwing error.
“We definitely got on them quick with the small-ball,” first baseman Rylee Kent said. “Error after error. It got really loud in the dugout and we started rattling them. They started making errors and mistakes and we kept feeding off of that.”
Treasure Coast cut Park Vista's 4-0 advantage in half in the fourth when sophomore Alexa Bethel smacked a two-out double into left field. But the Titans didn't score again.
After throwing 145 pitches in an extra-innings regional semifinal win over Palm Beach Gardens earlier this week, the Titans made Fariello work through extended at-bats, including a nine-pitch battle in the second and an 11-pitch at-bat in the fifth.
But adjustments by Park Vista proved successful. The Cobras turned to freshman Nicole Mergen on the mound for the final two innings of the contest, and the young hurler was impressive in closing out the game.
For Treasure Coast, despite Friday’s result, the season was an historic one.
“Treasure Coast has never had a season like we did this time,” said coach Lauren Kosinski. “We made it further than we’ve ever made it before. We’re excited to build on it, and keep pushing forward. My girls played a great game, and just a phenomenal season.”
With the win, Park Vista returns to state and will face Orange City-University (25-0) in the semifinals in a matchup of unbeatens at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Clermont. Fariello, who has replaced injured star Tyrina Jones on the mound, should be rested and ready.
“I’m going to win,” she said. “We’ve got our defense and we’ve got hitters. We have the potential to win, and I’m not going to stop until I’m there.”
Class 3A
Miami-Westminster Christian 17, Oxbridge Academy 9: Luna Curran went 4-for-4 with a run and an RBI, but it wasn't enough as the ThunderWolves (20-2-1) lost a slugfest in a Class 3A regional final.
Oxbridge led 5-3 after five innings, but the visting Warriors (23-6) scored nine runs in the top of the sixth to break the game open and added five more in the seventh.
Curran took the loss, giving up 11 runs, but just three earned, in 5 1/3 innings.