State Softball: John Carroll's title hopes derailed by Sophia Kardatske and University Christian

CLERMONT 𑁋 The John Carroll softball team and its offense had been on fire this postseason.

En route to their first Final Four appearance since 2018, the Rams have averaged more than nine runs through two district games and three regional contests. But for as often as it has lit up the scoreboard, John Carroll faced a pitcher Tuesday that simply turned out the lights.

Sophia Kardatzke stymied the Rams as the senior pitcher collected 15 strikeouts to guide Jacksonville University Christian to a 4-1 victory during a Class 2A state semifinal from the Legends Way Ballfields just outside of Orlando.

Putting up its lone run in the sixth inning on an RBI triple from Makayla Ortiz, John Carroll only produced five hits against the Division I USC Upstate signee. Meanwhile, the Christians scored once in the second, two more times in the third and a run in the fifth.

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University Christian, the Region 3 champion, was the No. 2 seed in the 2A bracket while the Rams, the Region 4 winners, were seeded third.

The Christians advance to face defending champion Evangelical Christian at 4 p.m. Wednesday in a rematch of last year’s state title game. The top-seeded Sentinels moved on after Zoe Yzaguirre tossed a no-hitter in a 5-0 victory over Academy at the Lakes.

Kardatzke was most overwhelming during the middle frames, fanning six batters in a row at one point with a steady diet of fastballs and off-speed pitches.  Even with the senior in control, John Carroll had solid chances in even innings to put a dent into her dominance.

In the second inning, Briley Orton got aboard by sending a line drive to right field for a one-out single. She moved to second following a wild pitch, but Kardatzke struck out Mikale Lemons and Lilly Rollinger to end the threat.

Two innings later, Mackenzie Mostoller delivered a one-out single for the Rams followed by another Orton opposite-field base hit. The two runners each advanced a base following a wild pitch, but were stranded with Lemons grounded out to second.

Senior Sophia Loreto infielder also had a hit in her final game as the Indian River State signee singled and was driven in by Ortiz in the sixth.

Ortiz got the start in the circle for John Carroll. With two runners in scoring position, the sophomore pitched out of a jam in the first by striking out Kate Dell’Abla and getting Dixie Tessier to ground out to end the frame. However, Ortiz was less fortunate the following two frames.

Elissa Murdock rocketed a double down the third-base line to lead off the second. Next, Lydia Smith bunted toward first, but a Rams fielder dropped the ball in an attempt to tag out Smith, which allowed Murdock to reach home.

Then in the third, the Christians’ first three batters each reached with base hits. After Jaleigha Harris started off the inning with a leadoff single, Kardatzke added to her run support with an RBI triple. She scored one pitch later on a Dell’Alba single.

Murdock later added an insurance run with an RBI single in the fifth. Ortiz finished out of the game, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

The sophomore will be one of numerous returners from a team that finished with a 24-7 record. The Rams will only lose Loreto to graduation.

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Softball: John Carroll falls to University Christian in Class 2A semis