Lake Brantley Patriots march back to state softball semifinals

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The Lake Brantley Patriots are marching back to the state softball semifinals, and nothing much seems capable of stopping them from winning it all this time.

Ranked No. 1 in all classes in the FHSAA Power Rankings, Lake Brantley got a 1-hit shutout from Gabby Mike and balanced hitting to shut out visiting Port Orange Spruce Creek, 10-0, in five innings for the Class 7A, Region 1 championship on Friday night.

Mike, a Duke commit, struck out five and even ripped two hits, including a triple, to help her own cause. The Patriots blew the game open with six runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead. They added two more runs in the fifth to enforce the mercy rule and end the game.

It was the sixth consecutive shutout and 13th overall this season for the Patriots (24-3), who advanced to the state semifinals next Friday in Clermont.

“It was awesome,” said Lake Brantley coach Jacob Stanley said. “We knew a good softball team was coming in to play us. We respect them tremendously. Their roster is very talented. Their coaches are great. We knew it would be a tough game.

“I thought our girls rose to the occasion,” Stanley said. “They knew what was at stake. They didn’t waste any time to get ahead and pull away. So, it was fun.”

Lake Brantley jumped on Spruce Creek starter Julie Kelley in the first inning. Kiara Beltre singled up the middle, Kiley Strott reached on an error, scoring Beltre, and then Hayley Lounsberry scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.

Kelley and Mikey then battled it out until the fourth inning, keeping the score at 2-0. Mike battled out of a two-base jam in the third inning, and a bases-loaded jam in the fourth.

“When I get in those situations, it’s just eyes on everything and go back to the way I was pitching basic,” Mike said.

Lake Brantley then blew it open in the bottom of the fourth when they batted around and scored six runs. Bristin Bordeau started it all off with a bomb that cleared the scoreboard in centerfield.

“We put in a lot of work these past couple of days,” Bordeau said. “We had all of our pitchers out here working to get us (prepared). I think we really capitalized on it. I’m really proud of everybody.”

Statistically for Lake Brantley, Beltre, Cate Conway, Strott, Mike and Harris Gillam all had multiple hits.

Alexis Minaberry had a hit for Spruce Creek (15-7).