Upset! Spanish River softball stuns nationally-ranked Lake Brantley to reach state final
The dream is alive for underdog Spanish River softball at the FHSAA state championships.
The Sharks scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to stun nationally ranked Lake Brantley 13-9 in extra innings on Friday evening at the Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont.
Spanish River (16-8-1) will face Plant on Saturday at 7 p.m. Plant defeated Wellington 2-1 in extra innings late Friday night.
Lake Brantley (24-4) entered the Class 7A state semifinals as the No. 13 team in MaxPreps national high school softball rankings, No. 1 in Class 7A and No. 3 overall in Florida. The Patriots did not allow a single run in three regional victories en route to the state semifinals.
Spanish River, meanwhile, was the lowest-seeded team to qualify for the 2023 FHSAA state semifinals as the No. 7 at-large seed out of Region 4-7A.
In a three-plus-hour game chock full of comebacks, balls lost in the wind and controversial illegal pitches, the Sharks came out on top in thrilling fashion.
"Craziest game we have seen all week — by far," the National Federation of State High School Associations broadcaster said in extra innings.
More: 'Underdog' Spanish River softball makes improbable run to state semifinals
How it happened
Spanish River chased Lake Brantley freshman starting pitcher Lauren Compton with four runs in the first inning on an evening with swirling winds out to left field in Clermont.
The Patriots chipped away at the Sharks' advantage, however, and eventually took a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Spanish River then answered with two runs in the sixth inning, only to be put back on the brink when Lake Brantley scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead.
Facing elimination, Spanish River managed to tie the game at 9-9 and force extra innings.
Spanish River's Alaina George walked to start the top of the eighth inning, the seventh and final walk drawn by Sharks batters in the semifinal. Julia Massarella then picked up her third hit of the game with a single to put two runners on with no outs.
Shortstop Taigen Callahan moved both runners over with a groundout to second before Emma Eovin singled home the Sharks' winning run with a hit to left-center field.
Spanish River picked up insurance after Abygail Gonzalez walked to load the bases before Giselle Portanova launched a pop fly high into short center field. The ball fell in the "Bermuda Triangle" between the Patriots' center fielder and middle infielders to allow another run to score.
Sophia Camacho applied the final damages to Lake Brantley with a two-RBI single up the middle to give Spanish River its 13-9 advantage.
Spanish River is historic underdog
The Sharks are one of the biggest underdogs to reach an FHSAA state softball championship game in recent history.
A No. 7 seed in regionals, Spanish River is the lowest region seed to reach a softball state final since the FHSAA moved to its current power ranking qualification model in 2021, which features four district champions and four at-large bids per region.
Spanish River is making its debut appearance at the FHSAA state softball semifinals.
Underdog runs at FHSAA state softball
2023: Lemon Bay, Class 4A, No. 7 seed -> State semifinal
2023: Foundation Academy, Class 2A, No. 6 seed -> State semifinal
2022: Mitchell, Class 6A, No. 6 seed -> State semifinal
2022: Calvary Christian, Class 5A, No. 5 seed -> State champion
2022: Clay, Class 4A, No. 8 seed -> State semifinal
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Spanish River softball stuns Lake Brantley to reach first state final
