Lake Brantley eliminates Oakleaf in FHSAA Class 7A high school softball regional final
A quick start at the plate wasn't enough for Oakleaf, fading in the late innings in a 5-2 loss at top-seeded Lake Brantley in Saturday's rescheduled Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-7A softball final.
Oakleaf (17-8), state champion in 2017 and state runner-up in 2018, was attempting to reach its fifth FHSAA final four since 2015.
Lake Brantley ace Hannah Marien, who had given up only two earned runs all year, found a rhythm with 13 strikeouts after Oakleaf exploited defensive miscues for a 2-0 lead.
But the Patriots (24-4) chipped away at the advantage on Bristin Bordeau's solo home run in the third, and moved into the lead with two runs in the fourth off an Oakleaf error. Lake Brantley converted another error into insurance runs in the sixth.
Friday softball regionals: University Christian, Clay reach final four
Thursday softball regionals: Baldwin edges Keystone to reach final four; Middleburg wins epic
Softball stats: Northeast Florida year-end statistics leaders
Oakleaf pitcher Kayla Aldridge, in her final Knights game before heading to Florida A&M, combined with freshman reliever Addison Gish to limit Lake Brantley to six hits.
Leadoff batter Ciara Gibson, 3-for-4 on the day, scored both runs for Oakleaf. She scored on a passed ball after a game-opening double in the first inning, and came around to score on a fielder's choice hit by Ayianna Ward in the third.
The regional final was postponed from Friday because of storms in the Lake Brantley area, located just north of Orlando.
State No. 2 Lake Brantley, which had only two playoff appearances in school history before this spring, advances to Friday's Class 7A semifinal in Clermont.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school softball: Lake Brantley defeats Oakleaf, 2022 regional final
