ORANGE PARK – Ahead 2-1 in the sixth inning, Ridgeview head coach Casey Thompson likely knew the one run lead wouldn’t hold up, a few insurance runs would sure be nice.
The players delivered the knockout blows to send the Panthers to their first ever Final Four.
Not without some drama of course.
Down 2-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth, West Florida head coach Belinda Pittman complained to the umpires about the pitchers mound.
Grounds crew and volunteers worked on the mound to try to get it back to the standards of the umpires causing a 25-30 minute delay.
If that was stall technique to slow down the Ridgeview offense it didn’t work.
After the lengthy delay and both teams dancing to stay loose, the Panthers came out on fire in the inning.
Brooke Michael led off the sixth reaching first with an error, Alyssa Adams laid down a perfect bunt to put runners on first and third and Ashlyn Halford was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.
Brittany Michael helped her self out with a sac fly to left to score her sister Brooke Michael for a 3-1 lead.
Natalie Fortay laid down a perfect squeeze bunt which scored Adams from third, first baseman Meredith Morgan after getting the out at first over threw third base allowing Halford to score from second for a 5-1 lead.
With a four run lead now, Brittany Michael who was already in a zone firing a one hitter, had to be even more confident.
Facing the top of the lineup, Michael knew it wouldn’t be easy though, however Michael got a fly out to left, a strikeout and a ground out to third to send the Panthers to Vero Beach.
After the game, the widow of former Ridgeview coach Roger Harvey presented the team the regional championship trophy to head coach Casey Thompson and shared a few encouraging words with the team.
An emotional Casey Thompson nearly lost it but kept his composure long enough to share words with his team following the win.
The game didn’t start Ridgeview’s way though as both pitchers took control of the game early on.
Junior pitcher Jeya Prasad, who has committed to Florida State, came into the game with a 14-4 record, 0.70 ERA, 223 strikeouts and 33 walks.
Early on Prasad had her way with the Panthers lineup striking out five of the first seven batters she faced.
Michael was just as effective striking out three of first seven batters she faced.
Kiammah Watson reached on error, stole second and third but Michael got out the inning inducing a pop up to herself to end the einning.
In the top of the third, Watson drilled a ball over the right fielder head for an easy triple, however an error on the second baseman allowed her to score on the play giving the visiting Jaguars a 1-0 lead.
The Jaguars loaded the bases with two out, but Michael got out of the huge jam with a strikeout to end the threat.
Ridgeview answered in the bottom half of the third, Hannah Foster laid down a one out bunt for a single and Sarah Anderson followed with a single to right center.
With two outs, Brooke Michael stepped in the box and delivered the big blow drilling a pitch well over the left fielders head allowing Foster and Anderson to score giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
Now pitching with a lead for the first time, Michael had to feel confident and it showed on the mound. Michael retired the side in the fourth despite allowing a runner on via error.
After the Michael 2 RBI double, Prasad retired five in a row and seven of the next 8 batters to get out of the fourth and fifth innings easy.
The Jaguars put two runners on with two outs in the top of the sixth, but Michael’s eighth strikeout of the game got her out of the threat.
The loss was the third straight Elite 8 loss, after a loss against Clay at home last year and at Ridgeview this year.
Ridgeview (22-8) will play Sebring (25-2) in the Class 6A state semifinals Thursday at 11:05 a.m. in Vero Beach.
