North High’s bid for state softball title falls short
The North Fort Myers High School softball team has a lot to be proud of, playing the role of road warriors in its quest to make it to the Class 6A state championship.
Unfortunately, its bid finished one game short following a 3-1 setback to Chamberlain of Tampa in the Region 6A-3 finals in a game that was delayed two days by rain.
This followed a dramatic 4-3, 12-inning epic at Venice where the Red Knights recovered after seeing a three-run lead disappear in the seventh inning.
Against Venice, the Red Knights (22-6) took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, and led 3-1 going into the seventh inning when the Indians rallied with three hits and a key error to tie the game.
“We did everything we needed to do until then. They hit the ball well and we had an error,” North coach John Keyes said. “But MacKenzie Peterson pitched well, retiring 15 out of the last 17 batters.”
The gutty, complete-game performance, coupled with Kaylee Morgan scoring on a McKenzie Corbett pop-up in the 12th inning, earned the Knights a trip to Tampa to play former state champion Chamberlain, which started handsomely for North.
Katelyn Kelly singled, advanced to third and scored on a groundout to give North a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Chiefs responded in the bottom half. Lauren Williams led off with a home run. Elizabeth Diaz drive home what proved to be the winning run later on a fielder’s choice. Kelsi Mays drove home the final run in the third on a sacrifice bunt.
“We looked great in that first inning, then that girl hits a home run to center field and they put pressure on us the rest of the game,” Keyes said. “We were in a position to score runs and we didn’t do it.”
North hung tough as Peterson weaved in and out of trouble. Meanwhile Olivia Dwyer allowed just four hits to allow the Chiefs some cushion despite giving up three errors.
Keyes said sitting for three days and having to make trips to and from Tampa had an effect.
“It’s not an excuse, but when you’re home, they have an opportunity to crack you. Everything we did was on the road,” Keyes said.
The loss, Keyes said, did not diminish the accomplishments of the Red Knight team this season, following a 13-11 season last year and a first-round loss in districts.
“When you’re one of the final eight teams in the state, that’s quite a testament to your program,” Keyes said. “We stepped up from last year and beat Barron Collier and Venice on the road. It was a great year.”