Eustis advances to softball state finals with 2-0 win against Ridgeview in semifinals

CLERMONT — The Panthers are prowling, growling and still in the hunt for a state championship.

Eustis got runs in the first and fourth innings and Libby Levendoski tossed a three-hitter Thursday to pace the Panthers to a 2-0 win against Orange Park Ridgeview at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A softball state semifinals at Legends Way Ball Fields.

With the win — the Panthers’ 19th victory — Eustis improved to 26-1 on the season and will play Brooksville Hernando at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the Class 4A state championship. Hernando, with a record of 26-4, beat Plantation American Heritage 9-8 in Thursday's second semifinal game.

Panthers take regionals:Levendoski tosses a no-hitter to lead Eustis to 4A-2 title; MDCA wins 2A-2 title

Wind kept run scoring at a minimum

On a day with weather conditions made it apparent that runs would be at a premium — a 20 to 25 mph win was blowing in from right field throughout the game — Eustis wasted little time getting on the scoreboard against second-ranked Ridgeview.

In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Cassidy Ross worked Ridgeview pitcher Brittany Michael for a walk. She moved to second on a single to left by Isabella Andujar and raced to third on a passed ball. 

Following a walk to Jensen that loaded the bases with one out, Aubrey Ruby lifted a sacrifice to center that scored Ross.

In the fourth, Paris Key worked Michael for a leadoff walk. Kiersten Taylor, who went in to run for Key, scored an insurance run two batters later on a sharp single to left by Ainsley Perdicaris.

Clearly, that was more than enough run support for Levendoski. The sophomore, who tossed a no-hitter against Belleview in last week’s Region 2 championship game, was nearly as dominant against Ridgeview.

She held Ridgeview hitless for three innings before surrendering a single to Ashlyn Halford leading off the fourth inning. Brooke Michael also singled in the inning to give Ridgeview a scoring opportunity with one out. 

Levendoski and the Eustis defense, however, retired the next two hitters to snuff of potential rally.

An inning later, Brittany Michael hit a two-out double, but was stranded at second after Levendoski struck out Mary Girgis to end the inning. 

Those were only times Ridgeview had a runner advance as far second base. No Ridgeview reached third against Levendoski.

Levendoski finished with 13 strikeouts, giving her 41 in her last three starts, covering a span of 21 innings. She had 12 strikeouts in a 15-2 win against Rockledge in a Region 2 semifinal game, and finished with 16 her her no-hit effort against Belleview.

Eustis managed only three hits against Brittany Michael. Perdicaris’ RBI single in the fourth was the Panthers’ last hit of the game, all of which were singles.

Both runs charged to Brittany Michael were earned and she walked five while striking out six.

The was played in front a raucous, capacity crowd and featured the top two teams in Class 4A, based on the latest MaxPreps rankings. Eustis entered game as the top-ranked team, with Ridgeview coming at No. 2.

Following it’s semifinal win, American Heritage is ranked fourth with a 16-8 record. 

Tickets for Friday’s state championship game are $9 if purchased in advance on gofan.com. At Legends Way, the cost is $12, and cash and credit or debit can be used at the game. 

Parking is $10 for cars and $25 for buses. Concessions — traditional ballpark fare — are available at Legends Way.

The title game will mark the second time the Panthers and Leopards have faced off this season. Eustis beat Hernando 7-2 on April 7 in Brooksville.