Archbishop McCarthy, down 4-0, gallops past Pembroke Pines Charter in 5A regional final softball
SOUTHWEST RANCHES — Archbishop McCarthy erased a four-run deficit with seven runs in the first inning as the host Mavericks rallied past Pembroke Pines Charter 12-4 in a Class 5A softball regional final on Friday night.
Archbishop McCarthy (16-5) advances to its first state final four. The Mavericks will play Gainesville in a Class 5A state semifinal in Clermont on Thursday at noon, according to FHSAA.com.
Archbishop McCarthy is on a seven-game winning streak and had a 4-2 victory against Pembroke Pines Charter in the district championship contest earlier in the month.
Archbishop McCarthy also avenged a playoff loss to Pembroke Pines Charter from last season.
“The kids have done a great job,” Archbishop McCarthy coach Jeanne Ferrier said. “Sienna (Garcia) is locked in right now and throwing amazing. Everyone is hitting and that is something we did not have at the beginning of the season. We have been working on hitting all week long. I am so proud of them.”
Garcia, a junior, pitched a complete game and also stepped up with three hits at the plate.
“I am so proud of everyone on my team for having my back and I love every single one of them,” Garcia said. “We knew we had a really good team and it’s so amazing.”
Senior first baseman Chanty Guillou had two hits and three RBI in the victory.
“We had a lot moving parts and new players this season,” Guillou said. “We worked a lot at practice and we really came together and bonded together as a team. It took awhile and we finally got there.”
Senior second baseman Liv Coloca had two hits in the victory.
“We have really bonded as a family,” Coloca said. “We knew coming into this game that we were going to do whatever it takes to get to states. As a senior, it’s my last big moment and I want to ride it out until the end.”
Pembroke Pines Charter (7-19) jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the first inning with three doubles and five hits.
Junior center fielder Ariana Bonilla drilled a leadoff double to left-center. Senior right fielder Sophia Perez reached on a bunt single as Bonilla scored from third to open the scoring. Senior first baseman Aysa Morla had an RBI double to right-center to extend the lead to 2-0. Senior catcher Natalie Rivera ripped a two-out, two-run double to left center to make it 4-0.
Archbishop McCarthy responded with seven runs in the bottom of the first. Guillou walked with the bases loaded to make it 4-1. Third baseman Cheyanne Chaffin had an RBI single to left to cut the deficit to 4-2. Catcher Gianna Dilella walked with the bases loaded and a wild pitch later in the inning allowed the trying run to score. Left fielder Angie Sanchez had an RBI groundout to make it 5-4. Right fielder Krista Confessore ripped an RBI triple to right to increase the lead to 6-4. Shortstop Sophia Jimenez hit a line drive to center that was misplayed as the runner scored from third to make it 7-4.
Chaffin had a two-run double to right field to extend the lead to 9-4 in the bottom of the second.
The Mavericks pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Guillou had an RBI single to right field to score Izzy Baron. Dilella added an RBI single to increase the lead to 11-4.
Guillou drilled an RBI single to center to score Coloca to make it 12-4 in the bottom of the sixth.
Garcia bounced back in the circle as she allowed just three baserunners after the first inning. She retired the side in order three times.
Chaffin finished with three hits and three RBI. Dilella had three hits while Sanchez and Confessore both had two hits apiece.
Archbishop McCarthy cruised past Hialeah 15-0 and Bayside 11-1 in the first two games of the postseason.
Pembroke Pines Charter defeated South Fork 6-2 and Sebring 5-2 to reach the regional final.
“We peaked at the end of the season towards the playoffs and took it to the end,” Pembroke Pines Charter coach Maxwell Romero said. “It did not go our way. We always compete from the beginning to the end and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
Regional finals
Friday
7A
(4) Jupiter 1, (3) Port St. Lucie Centennial 0
(1) Western 4, (2) Park Vista 3
6A
(1) Doral Academy 12, (2) St. Thomas Aquinas 1
5A
(1) Archbishop McCarthy 12, (7) Pembroke Pines Charter 4
4A
(1) American Heritage 3, (2) Jensen Beach 2
3A
(2) Miami Somerset Academy 4, (1) Coral Springs Charter 2
State semifinals
In Clermont
Matchups and gametimes from FHSAA.com
7A
Western vs. Jupiter, Friday, 10 a.m.
5A
Archbishop McCarthy vs. Gainesville, Thursday, Noon
4A
American Heritage vs. Baker County, Wednesday, 1 p.m.