Hagerty softball races past Navarre in Florida 6A region semifinal

HHS pounds 10 hits, including two home runs, to win going away

OVIEDO, Fla. – Sometimes, a fast start can mean everything to a softball team, especially when you’re in the regional playoffs.

Hagerty rocked visiting Navarre for four runs in the first inning and added four more over the next two innings on the way to a 9-4 victory on Tuesday night in a Class 6A, Region 1 semifinal game. The Huskies (19-7) ripped 10 hits in all off two Navarre pitchers, helping to make a winner out of super sophomore Ella Verne, who started and pitched a four-hitter over four innings before giving way to Reese Twiggs.

Hagerty's Ella Verne pitched four innings, striking out four, and ripped a double to help the Huskies beat Navarre, 9-4, in a Class 6A, Region 1 semifinal on Tuesday night / Photo courtesy of Erin Thornsbury

In winning for the seventh time in eight games, Hagerty advanced to the region final on Friday. The Huskies will play the winner of Wednesday’s Oviedo-Pace game. Pace (25-1) is ranked No. 2 all classes by the FHSAA.

“Nice win,” said Hagerty coach David Stone. “Ella was dealing early. The team has a lot of confidence in her. Not to take away from the ability of the other pitchers, but she has the hot hand right now and our team believes in her.

“It’s really cool to see the relationship Reese and Ella and the girls have,” Stone said. “They are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, Also, the crowd at Hagerty brough a ton of energy that helped our team keep the momentum throughout.”

Hagerty actually had to rally to win this one after Navarre took a 1-0 lead on a single by Cailyn Cooke, a Gulf Coast State signee, in the top of the first inning. But it didn’t take long for the Huskies to respond.

Addie Orr and Rachel Matthiesen scored on bases-loaded walks, Annabella Musumeci scored on an error, and then Madison Molina scored on a base-loaded walk to give Hagerty a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Navarre cut its deficit to 4-2 in the top of the second inning when Taylor Jefferson doubled in Avery Didion. But the Huskies countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame when Orr scored on a sacrifice, and Molina doubled in Musumeci.

In the third, Cooke slapped an RBI-double for Navarre to cut Hagerty’s lead to three, 6-3. But then sophomore Ana Roman stepped up in the bottom of the inning and crushed a two-run home run to give the Huskies an 8-3 lead.

The schools would each score one more time, but it wasn’t enough for Navarre, which simply dug too deep of a hole to climb out of.

Statistically for Hagerty, Orr led the way with two hits, including a home run, three runs scored and two RBI. Matthiesen, a Rollins commit, had two hits, including a double, and one run scored; and Molina, two hits, including a double, and two RBI, for the Huskies.

Cooke had a spectacular game for Navarre, going 4-for-4 with a double, home run, one run scored and three RBI.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to get to the Final Four,” Matthiesen said. “The fact that we put ourselves in a position to get there with one more win is really exciting!

“Ella did her job again, and Addie and Ana came up huge with some bombs!” Matthiesen said. “Reese also coming in and closing was clutch. I’ve been saying it all year, but the Huskies are hot and we’re ready for whomever we will see on Friday.”