Playoff softball: Seminole Ridge ends season in regionals with shutout loss to Viera
LOXAHATCHEE — Bitten by the long ball, Seminole Ridge softball fell 5-0 to Viera on Thursday, unable to translate district dominance into regional success.
In a game of Hawks, the visitors got the better of Seminole Ridge, despite a gutsy effort by Bella Martinez.
Puzzled by Viera’s Addy Berry in the circle and a vexing strike zone, the bats’ quiet night spelled the end of what has been a rewarding season for Seminole Ridge.
Head coach Candace Navarro missed out on the Gatorade bath following her program’s fourth straight district title last week. In spite of the loss on Thursday, her team obliged with a pair of water bottles unexpectedly poured down her back.
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The smiles were a welcome sight, a reminder of the good times this year, of which there have been many.
And for the five seniors destined for graduation ceremonies this month, another district title offered quite the sendoff.
“Our seniors, when they came in as a freshman class, they just came in with a fire and the drive,” Navarro said. “Our program wasn’t quite known for winning, but they came in determined from the very beginning.”
Of the five seniors on the squad, four are going on to play at the next level, highlighted by Grace Rawn’s commitment to play at the University of South Florida after finishing her senior season with a .534 batting average, including eight doubles and four homers.
Maya Moro and Bella Martinez are both headed to Montreat College to play softball in North Carolina, while Hailey Vassalotti is committed to playing at Boise State.
Brooke Bohn is undecided but has multiple options to consider as an academic achiever.
“It’s tremendous to see them reach their goals,” Navarro said. “When we’re coaching, we’re not necessarily coaching for the wins. We’re coaching for those life lessons, and hopefully they get them. But for the girls to see those wins and their goals achieved through that, it’s phenomenal. They set out to do it, and they did it.”
Seminole Ridge finishes the 2024 spring season with a 17-8 record, tying the program’s 2021 season for the best win percentage since 2009.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Seminole Ridge softball ends playoff run after Viera shutout
