Westminster Christian's remarkable softball run ends in state semifinals
Westminster Christian ran out of miracles.
The Warriors softball team, after executing a pair of incredible comebacks in its previous two games, lost on Tuesday night, 4-3, to North Bay Haven Academy in the Class 2A state semifinals at Longwood.
Westminster finished its season with a record of 20-8-1. North Bay Haven (25-3) will play for the state title on Wednesday night.
Last week, Westminster earned a pair of walk-off wins despite trailing by six runs in the sixth inning of the regional semifinals and by seven runs in the sixth inning of the regional final.
On Tuesday night, however, the Warriors led 1-0 and 3-2, but North Bay Haven rallied each time.
'I'm super proud of these girls,' Westminster coach Nic Varsi said of his team. 'There were several lead changes – it was just a really good game back and forth.
'Our girls did awesome.'
Senior Gigi Khoury, Westminster's star third baseman, got things going in the first inning with a double. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Jasmine Armenteros' sac fly.
After North Bay Haven took a 2-1 lead on a two-run homer, the Warriors came right back in the top of the fourth inning.
Khoury singled, and Mya Rodgers reached on a two-base error to start the rally. Armenteros then hit a fly ball that carried so far into right field that Khoury scored from third and Rodgers sped home from second.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, North Bay Haven scored an unearned run in the fifth to tie the score, 3-3, and then another unearned run in the sixth to make it 4-3.
There was no Warriors comeback this time.
Only sadness.
'The girls are emotional and upset,' Varsi said. 'But more than the loss, I think they're sad because this team won't get to play together again.
'It's over.'
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