The bar continues to be raised for Orange City University’s softball program.
Unbeaten University, in just its 11th season, recorded its 11th shutout this spring while claiming the Class 7A Region 1 championship and qualifying for the FHSAA state semifinals for the first time.
The Titans (25-0) prevailed 3-0 at Lake Brantley (20-8) in front of a capacity crowd in Orange City. University advances to play Lake Worth Park Vista (28-0) in a matchup of undefeated teams Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont. The 7A final will be played next Saturday.
“I tell the girls we’re making history every day,” University coach Kenny Walters said. “I tell them that if we keep going, their records can never be broken, that they can only be tied. And they want to keep their records.”
University is one of five Orlando area programs competing in state softball tournaments next week. Winter Springs and Windermere Prep needed extra innings to advance on Friday. Eustis and Mount Dora Christian Academy recorded shutouts while wrapping up regional crowns.
MDCA (20-8) meets Jacksonville University Christian (17-2) in a Class 2A semifinal on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Windermere Prep (24-1) takes on Episcopal School of Jacksonville (23-5) in 3A on Wednesday at noon.
Eustis (25-1) plays Orange Park Ridgeview (26-3) in a 4A semifinal Thursday and Winter Springs (21-7), state champs in 2019, faces Viera (17-6) in 6A on Friday. Both of those games start at 10 a.m.
University’s junior pitcher, Grace Taylor, walked eight batters in the regional championship game vs. lake Brantley but emerged unscathed from bases-loaded jams in both the fourth and sixth innings with the help of timely defensive plays.
Each inning ended on unassisted outs by first baseman Maddie Jorczak.
“My mentality is one batter at a time,” Taylor said. “So if I walk a batter, it’s OK. I just need to focus batter after batter. Once it gets to bases loaded, it’s a little stressful, but I know my team is backing me up and I know I just need to bear down and focus on what I’m doing.”
Lake Brantley, a first-time district champ playing in regionals for only the second time, stranded 11 runners on base and was held to three hits.
The Patriots went without a hit until Kaeli Zahradnik singled in the fourth inning.
“That’s just softball,” Lake Brantley coach James Bayly said. “You work so hard all season to get here and then you get those opportunities and sometimes they just don’t go your way. That’s what happens when you play good teams. We did what we had to do defensively, but they took a couple base hits away from us up the middle.”
Junior shortstop Aminah Vega was swift-footed for the Titans the entire night, whether it was while covering her position or working the base paths. The UCF commit threw out five runners and made two other unassisted plays in the field for outs.
Vega led off the game by drawing the first of three walks while facing a full count. She crossed home plate three batters later when Annalyn Duncan singled with two outs along the foul line in shallow right field. Jorczak, who finished 2-for-4, drove in Vega on a two-out single to the left side in the third inning.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Vega said of reaching the final four. “It’s been a great journey already. We’ve been making history and I think we’re going to continue to make it.”
The Titans need two more wins to accompany the undefeated state championship team of Winter Springs from two years ago when the Bears finished 31-0.
Winter Springs returns to the final four after getting a walk-off 3-run homer from freshman Hannah Booth in the ninth inning for a 6-3 win vs. Tallahassee Lincoln (17-7). Booth also connected on a triple and finished 3-for-5 with 5 RBI.
Windermere Prep surrendered a 3-0 lead on the road at The First Academy (20-7) before outlasting the Royals for 4-3 win in 11 innings. Gracie Wallace struck out 21 batters and finished with three hits, including a leadoff double in the final inning. Wallace scored the game-winning run on a 2-out single by Madison Carr.
Regional final scores
Class 7A Region 1
Orange City University 3, Lake Brantley 0
Class 7A Region 3
Bradenton Lakewood Ranch 7, West Orange 2
Class 6A Region 1
Winter Springs 6, Tallahassee Lincoln 3 (9 inn.)
Class 4A Region 2
Eustis 5, Belleview 0
Class 3A Region 2
Windermere Prep 4, The First Academy 3 (11 inn.)
Class 2A Region 2
Mount Dora Christian 10, Seffner Christian 0
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
