SOFTBALL | Senior leadership steers Creekside to first-round playoff victory
As the rain fell down and the numbers in the visiting run column piled up, Creekside never wavered from the course.
"Senior leadership," Creekside head coach Neil Luciano said. "That was huge for us."
Creekside scored in five consecutive innings and slammed the brakes on Timber Creek's comeback bid, winning 11-6 in Thursday's Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-7A softball quarterfinal.
Tampa-committed shortstop Bella Campbell homered for the Knights (21-5), who built a 6-1 lead until Timber Creek (18-8) roared back in the top of the fifth. An RBI double, an RBI single and then a two-run homer by Emma Pynes in steady rain slashed the lead to one.
But a message from Campbell immediately after the home run, Luciano said, revitalized the Knights.
"She said, 'Hey, listen, we're still ahead and we still have the lead. Lock down these next two outs,'" Luciano said. "And then she comes in and sets the tone."
Campbell followed with a grounder that led to two RBI in the bottom of the fifth, igniting a five-run frame as Creekside pulled away to set up a Tuesday game at Lake Brantley. Kaylee Martineau, Carly Dall and Presley Brinkley each tallied two hits for Creekside.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Johns County softball playoffs 2024: Creekside first-round game
