17-02-2025
A year after ending county's softball state title drought, Western looks to run it back
It had been five years since a Broward County softball team had won a state championship.
It had been six years since Western High School in Davie had brought one home.
On the final day of last year's state tournament week in Clermont, the Wildcats closed the 2024 season as the last team holding a state championship trophy.
On Monday, the Wildcats officially began their attempt to run it back.
Western is coming off a 27-4-1 season, which it capped with a 2-0 victory over Sanford Seminole to win the school's second-ever state title.
The Wildcats are confident heading into the season since 10 of their regular players from that title run have returned.
Before Western's title-clinching win, it beat Lake Worth Park Vista and Jupiter, each by the score of 4-3 in extra innings.
Senior pitcher Ali Solo was in the circle for those triumphs and will once again spearhead the Wildcats' pitching staff this season. The Miami Herald's 7A-5A Pitcher of the Year in Broward last season, Solo went 17-4-1 with 180 strikeouts and a 1.26 ERA and hit .308 at the plate.
Western's lineup and infield return virtually intact.
Junior Brooke Bacaris is joined by senior Danae Falquez, who hit five home runs last season, in the middle infield.
Junior first baseman Analie Diaz, a transfer from American Heritage, should add consistent offense following a three-home run, 27-RBI season.
Senior Kennedy Butter will be behind the plate again and look to provide offense while working with Solo to keep opposing hitters in check.
The spot where Western took a bit of a hit is in the outfield where Arlette Caravaca and Alana Cypress graduated. Junior Madison Mejia is back, however, and will try to make up for their absence.
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▪ Coral Springs Charter (26-4, 3A regional finalist) enters the season hoping to have a similar return to the top like Western as the Panthers are chasing their first state title since winning five in a row from 2015-2019.
Coral Springs Charter enters the season ranked No. 34 by MaxPreps and with one of its more balanced rosters in recent years, which will be led by two of the state's best in the pitching circle. Sophomore Courtney Wahlbrink is back after a stellar season in which she was named the Miami Herald's 4A-1A Pitcher of the Year. Add to the mix, senior pitcher Sophia Bertorelli, a Boston College commit who is back after missing all of last season due to injury, and the Panthers might have one of the most formidable 1-2 punches in the state.
Junior catcher/infielder Gio Gurgel adds pop to the lineup, along with senior catcher/infielder Heather Robertson, a Florida Gulf Coast signee, and senior infielder Addison Michel, a Boston University signee. Sophomore infielder Cam Thiele is another consistent source of offense, and senior Mia Rodriuguez, a Barry University signee, leads their outfield.
▪ St. Thomas Aquinas (17-10-2, 6A regional finalist) moves down to Class 5A and away from powerhouse Doral Academy, which ended its season in 2024. The Raiders are loaded for a potential run to state with several starters returning including junior and All-Broward first team pitcher Taylor Goad, and senior infielder and Miami Herald Player of the Year Christina D'Agostino. The latter hit a county-best 13 home runs last season and returns to power Aquinas' lineup along with junior outfielder Brianna Sims, senior infielder Victoria Brunette and junior outfielder Jessica Sacca, a transfer from Coral Springs Charter.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons (17-6, 3A regional semifinalist) will look to take the next step in its push for a berth at state led by junior pitcher Lydia Berent, a Stanford University commit. The key will be a young lineup backing her up, which is led by freshmen Skylar Flack (catcher), Dakota Williams (utility) and Sloane Schaefer (outfielder) and sophomore infielder Morgan Beavers.
▪ American Heritage (18-11) lost some key starters, but still returns a strong group led by junior infielder Bria Villano. Junior Emma Griffith and freshman Mia West join Villano in what will still be a talented Patriots' infield.
▪ Archbishop McCarthy (16-6, 5A state semifinalist) is coming off its first ever trip to the state final four and returns senior pitcher Sienna Garcia and junior outfielder Izabel Baron. The Mavericks move down to 4A and will battle American Heritage in the region.
▪ Pembroke Pines Charter (7-19, 5A regional finalist) returns senior catcher and South Carolina State commit Ariana Bonilla and will once again be led in the pitching circle by sophomore Destiney Ortega. A strong incoming freshman class will try to help the Jaguars navigate through another tough schedule.
▪ West Broward (15-9, 7A regional quarterfinalist) lost some key players, but returns senior infielder Cyara Geronimo and senior outfielder Ava DiFato. They will be joined by sophomore infielder Victoria Carmona, a transfer from Somerset Academy.
▪ Westminster Academy (19-9, 2A regional semifinalist) moves down to Class 1A and should be one of the main contenders to advance to the state final four this season. Versatile senior shortstop Dianna Montidoro leads the Lions once again and is joined by seniors Ava Salvino and Savanna Lee. Salvino tops the pitching staff, and can provide power as she had six home runs last season.
▪ Somerset Academy (11-13, 4A regional semifinalist) returns a strong core it hopes will lead to a deeper playoff push. Junior pitcher Caitlyn Diaz, a Samford commit, and junior center fielder Katie Bailey lead the group. Coach Angel Torres believes the pitching staff is deeper than ever and could be the difference against Broward's traditional powerhouses.
▪ Cooper City (9-15, 6A regional semifinalist) returns only four players and will lean on some talented, but inexperienced leaders to return to prominence. Sophomore second baseman/shortstop Rylee Hedden is a potential breakout player and the Cowboys will likely lean on senior second baseman/outfielder/catcher Jenavive Quinones for leadership.
▪ Nova (7-11 last year) will be led by freshman middle infielder/outfielder Aniya Williams, junior pitcher/outfielder Dasia Davis and sophomore middle infielder/outfielder Jada Corbin.
▪ Pine Crest (5-10) will be led by senior first baseman Sam Burke.
