Faced with multiple hours bus rides, they odds were totally against them.
Yet Keystone Heights, West Nassau and Clay all underdogs found ways to knock out the favorite and pull off the upsets.
As a result, all three will be joining both Oakleaf and Trinity Christian in Vero Beach next week at the Final Four.
Keystone Heights 3, Hernando 2
BROOKSVILLE – Down to its last out, senior Bailey Story wasn’t ready for her softball career to come to and end just yet.
Story slapped a double into center to score both Lexi Northway, who led off the seventh with a double to left and Ashleigh Jennings, giving the Indians their first lead of the game.
Hernando (25-4) had a shot in the bottom of the seventh but the Indians retired the side quickly to send them to Vero Beach.
Story heroics were needed after the host Leopards jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Scoreless in the second, Madyson Lamp lined a shot over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, Nakayla Roberts single up the middle scored Janea Mobley for a 2-0 lead as the Leopards looked in control early.
However, in the third, Story doubled into left field to score Jennings cutting the lead to 2-1 early in the game.
https://twitter.com/RussHedgecock/status/995104916074041344
Keystone Heights (20-10) is back at the Final Four for the first time since 2012 and will play No. 9 West Nassau (22-6) Friday at 8:35 a.m. at Dodgertown in the Class 5A state semi-finals.
West Nassau 2, Marianna 0
MARIANNA – Skylar Whitty isn’t likely to forget her 18th birthday anytime soon.
Whitty shut down a potent Marianna lineup 2-0 Friday in the regional final to send the Warriors back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015.
The final out … and a heart stopping juggle act 🤷🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/5ZRmyID3EZ
— West Nassau Softball 🥎🏹 (@WNHSsoftball) May 12, 2018
Ninth ranked West Nassau (23-6) plays No. 10 Keystone Heights (20-10) Friday morning at 8:35 a.m. in the Class 5A state semi-finals in Vero Beach.
Clay 5, West Florida 1
PENSACOLA – Tied in a scoreless stalemate in the fourth inning, Clay broke it open with four two out runs to lead the Blue Devils to a 5-1 win over host West Florida tonight.
Its the Blue Devils first trip back to state since 2001, when they upset Bartow to win the schools only state title thus far.
Sophomore Megan Crutcher handcuffed the Jaguars offense allowing only four hits while striking out five to get the win.
Jaguars starter Jeya Prasad (FSU) early on had a lot success against Clay retiring them in order through three innings before Marianne McDonald was hit by a pitch with two outs.
Hailey Stone doubled down the left field line to score McDonald and Sydney Lewis followed with a RBI single scoring Stone to tie the game. Paola Jorge-Silva added a 2 RBI single and then scored on a single in the next at bat.
Clay (18-12) will play No. 2 Land O’Lakes (24-6) in the Class 6A state semi-finals Friday in Vero Beach.
