All roads lead to Clermont: Pace softball returns to state final four after special sendoff
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Over the past four years, players have come and gone from the Pace softball team. But there’s been one consistent thing to the program: a trip to the state final four in Clermont. Some of this year’s seniors – Jayden Heavener, Shelby McKenzie and Mallory Baker – have been to the city just outside of Orlando all four years.
With the exception of first-year players, none of the Patriots – including head coach Lexi Alexander – know nothing but Clermont toward the end of May.
“I think it feels the same all four years,” McKenzie said. “We’re ready to get after it.”
“I feel like this team has worked pretty hard to get to where we are, so I’m pretty confident in this team,” Heavener said.
The previous three years, however, have ended in heartbreak. In 2021, Pace fell in the state semifinals to Land O’ Lakes, then in the Class 5A state tournament. In 2022, it was another semifinal loss, this time to Melbourne. Last year, the Patriots finally got over the state semifinal hump, but fell to Bartow in the state championship after a late eruption from the Yellow Jackets.
After four straight trips, there’s some additional pressure on Pace to seal the deal and bring home the state crown. But Alexander and company know that, at this point – especially with how stacked Class 6A is – every team is good.
“Of course we want a state championship, but you don’t realize how hard it might be to do that. I’d like for people to put their feet in our girls’ shoes … to see what it’s like,” Alexander said. “At this point, it’s who’s got the pitching and who can scramble those few runs?”
Pace has the potential to go against a couple Division I pitchers. At least in the semifinals, the Patriots will be going against a UCLA commit. In the other semifinal between Bartow and Doral Academy, there are pitchers committed to the University of Florida and University of Central Florida.
But Pace has an ace of its own, with Heavener signed to Louisiana State University.
“We’ve got 14 good players that can hopefully go down there and can compete with those teams, whoever we face,” Alexander said. “It’s so important to get the job done, whether it’s putting a bunt down, finding the wall or just getting on base. … It’s so important to get on base. One run could win the ball game for you at this point.”
“Every pitcher down there is good. But we have a great pitcher as well. As long as we get it done on offense, we should be good,” McKenzie said. “I just know we can always get a timely hit.”
Over the last four years, McKenzie and Heavener both noted one thing they’ve learned: the small ball will win games. In both 2021 and 2022, the Patriots lost in one-run games. Last year, the Patriots won in the semifinals by three runs, before falling to Bartow by four runs.
Every run, every pitch, every opportunity is important in Clermont.
In the Region 1-6A finals against Hagerty, Pace saw firsthand the effectiveness of the small ball. Abigail McLean laid down a bunt in the bottom of the first inning on a squeeze, sending Tatum Hasting home to score. And, according to McKenzie, that completely changed the outlook of the game – even if it was that early in the contest.
But that doesn’t mean Pace isn’t afraid to hit, with 43 home runs on the year. But players know those might be harder to come by going against top pitchers.
“Usually our defense has been pretty good, but we need to get timely hits,” McKenzie said. “One through nine, we’ve been doing amazing. Our nine batter is one of our top hitters on the team, (and) it’s great to turn the lineup over.”
“We’ve practiced a lot of bunts, small ball; even defense on small ball because that happens a lot toward me. We’ve come a long way with that,” Heavener said. “Offensively, this year, we’ve got a little bit more depth. We’ve got more girls who can hit singles, doubles and triples – and even home runs – at the bottom of the lineup.”
Pace was sent off on Tuesday down to Clermont by a host of family members and friends, as the Patriots embarked on the journey Tuesday afternoon. The team rented a few vans and were led out of the parking lot by a Santa Rosa County Sheriff.
“It’s nice we get to go down earlier. We’ll get to practice (Wednesday). … I know it stinks for them, missing their last week of school, but it helps us to get down there, settle. … Their biggest thing last year was to get past the first game, past the final four,” Alexander said. “If we make it past the first game, we’ll be competing for a state championship again, which is good for the girls to be in that position again.”
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pace softball back in state tournament for fourth consecutive season
