District softball recap: Deltona, Spruce Creek clinch automatic FHSAA playoff bids

DAYTONA BEACH — State softball champions in 2021, and runners-up a year ago, the Deltona Wolves played with their backs against the wall Thursday just to ensure a regional playoff spot.

The FHSAA's mathematical ranking formula, after all, does not factor in past accomplishments. Deltona started the week in the eighth — and final — postseason position, but could punch its tournament ticket automatically as district winner.

"(The girls) didn't know that at all. I knew that," Wolves coach Lindsay Ingram said. "We just knew that, at this time of the year, we want to keep winning and just keep doing the things that Deltona does, the little things and worrying about us."

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS: Spruce Creek girls duo goes on 4A tournament run, falls in state individual doubles finals

Deltona demonstrated championship-level pedigree and poise in the clutch, fending off Matanzas for a 5-3 victory in the District 4-5A final at Daytona State College. Sophia Weinrich ignited a three-run fourth inning with a go-ahead sacrifice fly, and both Jaylene Mieres and CiCi Ortiz drew bases-loaded walks for insurance.

Weinrich, a freshman who watched Deltona's previous playoff forays from the stands, added a vital RBI single in the top half of the fifth.

"I looked up to these girls," Weinrich said. "I still do, but now it's like we're sisters. They're my teammates, they're my friends, and I can rely on them for anything."

Matanzas (19-4) grabbed the lead in the opening frame when Leah Stevens smacked a run-scoring single just under the glove of Wolves shortstop Sophie Strempel.

The Pirates trimmed a three-run deficit in the fifth when Ruby Fogel sliced an RBI single to right field, and put runners on the corners again in the sixth when Ingram chose to make a pitching change. Tessa Guenette stepped in for Ortiz and struck out Emerson Esselstein to end the inning.

Guenette returned to face the top of the Matanzas order in the seventh, and induced a game-ending double play from Ashley Sampselle.

"I was just trying to stay calm," Guenette said. "I know that I've been pitching well, and I know what I'm capable of.

"I looked at my catcher's glove before every pitch because I'm a very visual person. I locked in and just let my body do what it needs to do."

The Pirates are likely to secure a regional wild card, considering they entered the district tournament as the No. 5 seed in the region. By falling in the final, they will hit the road — likely for a first-round trip to either Fort Walton Beach or Middleburg.

"I'm really proud of my girls fighting inning after inning, and really (showing) that they weren't going to lay down and make it easy for them by any means," Matanzas coach Sabrina Manhart said.

"We hope to see that we've got a shot to make the playoffs still because of our ranking. And we'll be ready. This game helped us prepare for the next step in postseason play. I told our girls that these are the types of teams they will continue to see from here on out."

Spruce Creek completes season sweep of University (District 2-7A)

Taylor Ferrandino homered and drove in a career-high five RBIs, and Julie Kelley tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts as Spruce Creek completed a season sweep of University with a 9-0 win Thursday.

Mackenzie Colby collected three hits, including a double, and scored twice for the top-seeded Hawks, who improved to 19-3 on the season. Spruce Creek tallied 19 unanswered runs in its two tournament games.

Firmly on the regional playoff bubble, University (14-11-1) improved its resumé earlier in the week with a 14-4 semifinal rout of Flagler Palm Coast. Nina Rios-Cruz doubled three times with four RBIs, and Addison Pertler added two hits and three RBIs.

The Titans held the No. 8 spot in Region 1-7A entering districts.

Madelyn Brown leads Menendez past Atlantic (District 4-4A)

Madelyn Brown tossed a one-hitter and struck out 17 as Menendez defeated Atlantic 4-0 on Wednesday for the District 4-4A title.

Eight players registered a hit for Menendez, with Dylan McDade and Emily Tobuck each doubling and scoring a run.

Atlantic (7-10) reached the final by virtue of Monday's 12-2 victory over Seabreeze. Aurielle Reavis reached base four times — two walks and two hits, including a home run — and piled up 12 strikeouts in six innings in the circle. Lillian Killian went 2 for 4 with four RBIs for the Sharks.

Taylor falls to Keystone Heights (District 3-3A)

Keystone Heights quieted Taylor's bats, holding them to four hits in a 7-1 victory in the District 3-3A championship game. Ramos launched a solo homer for Taylor's lone run of the contest.

The Wildcats (6-14) survived until the regional semifinal round, prevailing in a back-and-forth 13-12 slugfest against Interlachen.

Amya Ramos went 3 for 5 with two doubles and five RBIs, and Caydence Hassell drove in a pair of runs.

Father Lopez drops walk-off heartbreaker (District 4-2A)

Father Lopez fell just short of a district championship, losing to No. 1 Countryside Christian 11-10 in walk-off fashion.

Trailing 4-1 after the first inning, the third-seeded Green Wave (6-11) jumped ahead 9-5 with a six-run third inning highlighted by a two-run single by senior Thalia Perez. From there, senior pitcher Emma Wilen settled in and did not allowed a run in the third, fourth or fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Minutemen exploded for four runs to tie the game.

Wilen put Father Lopez back ahead 10-9 with a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh.

But in the bottom of the inning, Countryside Christian advanced runners to second and third with one out. Riley Keith grounded a ball to shortstop, which brought the first run home. The second runner scored as the ensuing throw to first pulled the first baseman slightly off the bag, giving her enough time to sprint home.

Trinity Christian doubled up by Mount Dora (District 5-2A)

Elimar Rosado had two hits and two RBIs in her final game, but it was not enough for Trinity Christian to topple No. 1 seed Mount Dora Christian in the semifinals.

Emmi Bowman doubled and drove in three as the host Bulldogs won 6-3.

Trinity Christian crushed Legacy Charter 17-2 to advance beyond the opening round. Charleigh Morasse went 3 for 3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Nicole McDermott fanned six in just four innings.

— Chris Vinel contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler area district softball roundup: Deltona, Creek advance