Softball Regionals: No. 1 Gulf Breeze tumbles to end perfect season, Navarre and Northview advance
Here's a roundup of regional softball games played on Thursday, May 11, 2023:
Region 1-5A quarterfinal
No. 8 Clay 4, No. 1 Gulf Breeze 1
One night after the Pace baseball team, the top-seed in Region 1-6A, fell victim to a quarterfinal upset, the Dolphins were struck with the same fate following a home loss to the No. 8 Blue Devils.
Victorious in its previous 25 games, Gulf Breeze suffered its first and only loss of 2023 after being held to one run for just the second time this season.
The person that kept the Dolphins (25-1) at bay was Gabrielle Ellis. The Mercer commit allowed four hits, no walks and no earned runs while striking out 15 in a complete-game effort. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored.
PNJ Softball Leaderboard: Escambia, Santa Rosa County stat leaders entering regionals
Region 1-4A Softball: 'Resilient' West Florida brings the fight, but is bounced by South Walton
Gulf Breeze scored its only run in the bottom of the first inning when a base hit from Jacey Reed plated Kenna King. The hosts held a 1-0 advantage until the visitors put up three runs in the fifth. The visitors added another in the seventh.
McKinsey Bardroff chipped in two hits with a pair of RBIs for Clay (13-10), who will play No. 4 Ridgeview in a regional semifinal next week
Reed finished 2-for-3 with a double. Erika Earl, Leila Ammon and Ava Chapman each had a hit for the Dolphins. Ammon started the night in the circle, giving up three unearned runs on three hits and five walks through 4 2/3 innings. The Middle Tennessee State commit finished with 10 strikeouts.
Region 1-6A quarterfinal
No. 6 Navarre 9, No. 3 Lake Howell 1
The Raiders claimed its first regional playoff victory since 2014 in upending the Silver Hawks on the road.
Navarre, who traveled nearly seven hours to Central Florida, first lit up the scoreboard with four runs in the second inning. The visitors continued to pour it on with a run in the third, two in the fourth and two more in the seventh.
Meanwhile, the Raiders received a strong night in the pitcher's circle from Kayden Riddle. The sophomore gave up one run (unearned) on four hits and three walks with nine strikeouts.
Region 1-6A Softball: Mallory Baker’s big blasts help Pace ride to convincing playoff win
More: Pace junior Jayden Heavener named a finalist for MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Eight players recorded hits for the road team, led by a 2-for-3 night at the plate for Harmony Stafford. The senior scored two runs, as did Cailyn Cooke, who connected on a solo home run.
Elsewhere, Lily Weaver and Renee Hester had two RBIs apiece.
Navarre (15-12) will once again head back to the Orlando area for a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday at No. 2 Hagerty.
Region 1-1A semifinal
No. 3 Northview 17, No. 2 Holmes County 6
In the blink of an eye, the Chiefs turned a competitive tussle into a football score as they collected a runaway road victory over the Blue Devils.
Northview trailed 6-3 before vaulting ahead with four runs in the top of the sixth inning and breaking the game open with a 10-spot in the seventh.
Emma Gilmore and Chloe Ragsdale each homered for the visitors. Additionally producing a triple, Ragsdale racked up a team-best six RBIs. Gilmore had three hits while Aubrey Stuckey put up four. Those two, along with Leah Brooks, Mary-Clayton Dawson and Allison Flowers each drove in two runs.
Region 1-1A Softball: Jay continues to excel in May, pounding Freeport to advance to region final
Stuckey was solid in a relief role in the circle. The senior gave up just two hits and no walks through three scoreless innings. She also struck out two.
With the victory, the Chiefs earned a date against top-seeded Jay with a trip to the state semifinals at stake. The Region 1-1A Final is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jay.
The Royals are 3-0 against the Northview this season.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Softball Roundup: Gulf Breeze perfect no more, falls to Clay at regionals
