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District softball preview: Spruce Creek, Matanzas snag top seeds in quest for playoffs

chris boyle, daytona beach news-journal
·6 min read

Playoff time has arrived for high school softball, with more than dozen Volusia-Flagler teams taking to the diamond this week in hopes of keeping their seasons going.

A select few have done enough during the regular season to likely qualify for the Florida High School Athletic Association's regional tournament, but the easiest way to punch a ticket and gain automatic entry. District play kicks off Monday, and championship games are set for Thursday and Friday.

Six FHSAA districts, spread across five classifications, feature local softball squads. Here is a breakdown of each district and a preview for the potential make-or-break games ahead.

District track and field roundup: Mainland boys, Flagler Palm Coast girls take home championships

District 2-7A

Spruce Creek High's Neena Hernandez (1) makes a diving catch, Thursday April 18, 2024 during the Five Star Conference softball championship game at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Spruce Creek High's Neena Hernandez (1) makes a diving catch, Thursday April 18, 2024 during the Five Star Conference softball championship game at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

Local teams involved: No. 1 Spruce Creek (17-3), No. 2 University (12-10-1), No. 3 Flagler Palm Coast (16-8), No. 5 DeLand (11-10)

Buzz: Ranked No. 31 throughout Florida, Spruce Creek enters districts as a substantial favorite, given its 6-0 record this spring against district opposition. Kentucky commit Julie Kelley has surrendered six earned runs over 90⅓ innings while racking up 146 strikeouts. The Hawks' hitters are cumulatively batting .337 with 16 home runs.

University holds the projected No. 8 spot in Region 1-7A, meaning its playoff life could be on the line in Tuesday's semifinal showdown against Flagler Palm Coast. The Titans have won both previous head-to-head meetings, including a 4-3 victory on April 9 in which catcher Addison Pertler had two hits, walked twice and drove in a run.

DeLand has lost three of its last four games, and faces West Port on Monday evening for a shot at Spruce Creek.

District 4-5A

Matanzas pitcher Leah Stevens throws during a game with University at University High School in Orange City, Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Matanzas pitcher Leah Stevens throws during a game with University at University High School in Orange City, Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Local teams involved: No. 1 Matanzas (17-3), No. 2 Deltona (16-5), No. 3 New Smyrna Beach (7-7), No. 4 Mainland (3-17), No. 5 Pine Ridge (2-12)

Buzz: Unless one of the three lower seeds pulls off a stunner, Matanzas and Deltona will clash in what should be one of the more intriguing district finals statewide.

Deltona, a state runner-up in 2023 and Volusia County's first FHSAA softball champion the year before, has outscored opponents 170-36 this season. Sophie Strempel and CiCi Ortiz have three home runs apiece in the heart of the Wolves' batting order.

Matanzas emerged as a contender with a 7-0 start, and the return of ace pitcher Leah Stevens from a career-threatening blood clot in her brain. Stevens leads the area with 165 strikeouts, and she is also the Pirates' top hitter with a .462 average. Ashley Sampselle paces the Pirates in slugging (.779) with three home runs, three triples and five doubles.

Region 1-5A, anchored by Middleburg, is fairly deep; Matanzas is seeded fifth, and Deltona eighth with Ponte Vedra nipping at its heels. The automatic playoff berth could be vital for these teams.

District 4-4A

Local teams involved: No. 2 Atlantic (6-9), No. 3 Seabreeze (3-17)

Buzz: Atlantic and Seabreeze will tangle Monday for the third time in 12 days, and the winner will face top-seeded Menendez with a chance of snatching a playoff spot.

Aurielle Reavis launched three home runs and drove in six RBIs as Atlantic defeated the Sandcrabs 13-3 on Thursday. The Sharks surpassed double digits in scoring in both of their victories over Seabreeze.

Kyra McLin is Seabreeze's most dangerous offensive weapon, registering a .452 average with three triples and a home run.

District 3-3A

Taylor's Amya Ramos connects for a rbi single during during a game with DeLand at DeLand High School, Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Taylor's Amya Ramos connects for a rbi single during during a game with DeLand at DeLand High School, Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Local teams involved: No. 4 Taylor (5-13)

Buzz: Taylor faces an uphill climb in order to secure a return trip to the playoffs, starting with a must-win game Monday versus Interlachen. The Wildcats are battle-tested, though, with a 7.04 strength of schedule boosted by facing most of Volusia-Flagler's upper echelon.

Junior Amya Ramos has been on a tear for the Wildcats, posting five three-hit games since the start of April. Should Taylor advance, top-seeded Keystone Heights awaits in the semifinal round.

District 4-2A

Local teams involved: No. 3 Father Lopez (5-10)

Buzz: Green Wave games have often turned into slugfests this spring; of their 15 outings, at least one team has scored 10 or more runs on 11 occasions.

Twin sisters Emma and Hannah Wilen top Father Lopez's offensive leaderboard, hitting .561 and .400 respectively with one home run apiece.

Father Lopez needs to go through Peniel Baptist and, most likely, Countryside Christian in order to keep its season alive.

District 5-2A

Local teams involved: No. 4 Trinity Christian (8-8)

Buzz: Taylor Low is producing another strong season for the Eagles, totaling 24 hits in 48 at-bats. Fellow senior Nicole McDermott is 6-6 in the circle with a 3.33 ERA, 81 strikeouts and one no-hitter.

Trinity hosts Legacy Charter in the opening round, and the winner moves on to visit Mount Dora Christian.

Full district tournament schedule

District 2-7A

(All games at Spruce Creek)

Monday, April 29

  • Game 1 — No. 5 DeLand vs. No. 4 West Port, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 30

  • Game 2 — Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 Spruce Creek, 4 p.m.

  • Game 3 — No. 3 Flagler Palm Coast vs. No. 2 University, 4 p.m.

Thursday, May 2

  • Game 4 — Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.

District 4-5A

(All games at Daytona State College)

Monday, April 29

  • Game 1 — No. 5 Pine Ridge vs. No. 4 Mainland, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 30

  • Game 2 — Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 Matanzas, 6 p.m.

  • Game 3 — No. 3 New Smyrna Beach vs. No. 2 Deltona, 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 2

  • Game 4 — Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.

District 4-4A

Monday, April 29

  • Game 1 — No. 3 Seabreeze at No. 2 Atlantic, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 1

  • Game 2 — Game 1 winner at No. 1 Menendez, 6 p.m.

District 3-3A

(All games at Palatka)

Monday, April 29

  • Game 1 — No. 5 Interlachen vs. No. 4 Taylor, 5 p.m.

  • Game 2 — No. 6 Crescent City vs. No. 3 Bradford, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 30

  • Game 3 — Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 Keystone Heights, 5 p.m.

  • Game 4 — Game 2 winner vs. No. 2 Palatka, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 2

  • Game 5 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

District 5-2A

Monday, April 29

  • Game 1 — No. 5 Legacy Charter vs. No. 4 Trinity Christian Academy, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 1

  • Game 2 — Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 Mount Dora Christian Academy, 5 p.m. (at Master’s Academy)

  • Game 3 — No. 3 Master’s Academy vs. No. 2 Geneva, 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 2

  • Game 4 — Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.

District 4-2A

(All games at Father Lopez)

Tuesday, April 30

  • Game 1 — No. 4 Saint Francis Catholic vs. No. 1 Countryside Christian, 5 p.m.

  • Game 2 — No. 3 Father Lopez vs. No. 2 Peniel Baptist Academy, 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 2

  • Game 3 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: High school softball: Daytona Beach area district tournament previews