A day after coming back from an early deficit in the state semifinals to secure a win, Park Vista looked like it might pull off the same feat in the Class 7A state title game.
The Cobras fell behind 6-1 to Bradenton Lakewood Ranch but rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth inning. If they could just set the Mustangs down quietly, they’d have one more chance to rally again, win their 49th straight game and their second straight state title.
Lakewood Ranch dashed those hopes. The Mustangs launched a rally of their own, scoring eight runs in the sixth inning to end the game early via the 10-run rule and snap Park Vista’s two-year winning streak with a 14-4 defeat in in Clermont on Saturday.
“We kept fighting and made it entertaining, for sure,” Cobras coach Joe DellaRocca said. “Maybe that last inning when it just fell short, maybe the air out of the balloon escaped there.”
Lakewood Ranch put Park Vista in an early hole, scoring four runs in the first two innings. Sophomore Chloe Fariello, who picked up a complete-game victory in the state semifinals, left the game after 1 2/3 innings, and freshman Nicole Mergen stemmed the tide for two innings.
“I don’t think it was any [tiredness] or anything like that,” DellaRocca said. “We went up against a good team, and credit to them. It doesn’t take away from Chloe or Nicole’s efforts out there.”
Park Vista put one run on the board when center fielder Ilianna Hernandez reached on an error, stole second and scored on another error. The Cobras had opportunities to score more throughout the game, but they left 11 runners on base.
Lakewood Ranch added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, making Park Vista’s comeback attempt more difficult. But for a moment, it appeared possible. The Cobras put two runners on to start the sixth inning, and one scored on an error. Another scored on a single by Hernandez, and a third on an RBI single by Mergen.
Park Vista trailed by only two runs and had the go-ahead run at the plate in catcher Kelsey Ganci. The senior catcher had one home run on the season, and she hit a deep fly ball to center field, but it died in the wind and fell into center fielder Cassidy McLellan’s glove. First baseman Rylee Kent lined the ball to left field for an out to end the rally.
“We’ve had some amazing comebacks, and it looked like we were close to having another one here,” DellaRocca said. “We were chipping away, we were fighting back. But just fell a little short, I guess.”
The wheels came off in the bottom of the sixth, as the Mustangs rallied for the eight runs they needed to end the game early and deny the Cobras their title defense.
“Certainly can’t let one game or a couple of innings that don’t go your way detract from what an amazing run, if you will,” DellaRocca said. “I don’t like to say that because I certainly don’t think the run is over. We’re just, I guess, taking a little pause.”
