18-05-2025
Westminster Christian softball draws inspiration from a child's fight for life
Pray For Maya – it's the sentiment that has inspired Westminster Christian's softball team to Tuesday's Class 2A state semifinals.
The girls on the team have been writing 'P4M' – in shorthand that means Pray For Maya – on their pink wrist bands, and they believe that helped lead them last week to a pair of miraculous, walk-off playoff wins. The Warriors trailed by six runs in the sixth inning of the regional semifinals and by seven runs in the sixth inning of the regional final.
Tragically, Maya Kirk, who was just 10 years old, died on Friday of a rare form of brain cancer. She left behind many loved ones, including her parents, Westminster boys' soccer coach Josh Kirk, and his wife, Yafy, and their eight-year-old son, Jacob.
'Maya loved and protected him,' Josh Kirk said of Jacob.
Senior Gigi Khoury, Westminster's star third baseman, said she and her teammates have been praying for Maya for weeks.
'I'm devastated,' Khoury said. 'It may sound naïve, but we were hoping for a miracle.'
Maya, who had taken up gymnastics before getting sick, was diagnosed with cancer on Feb. 12, 2024.
She spent the last 58 days of her life in the Intensive Care Unit, and her parents slept in her hospital room all that time.
The irony is that the girls on the softball team never met Maya.
Still, when they found out what a Westminster family was going through, they kept Maya in their prayers before and after every practice or game.
Nic Varsi, Westminster's softball coach, said he had quite a few talks with his team regarding Maya.
'Softball is important to our team – we put a lot of time and effort into it,' Varsi said. 'But life is more important.
'When you think about Maya and what her family is going through, it puts everything into perspective. The girls are now playing for something bigger than themselves.'
On Tuesday night at 8, Westminster (20-7-1) will play Panama City North Bay Haven Academy (24-3) in Longwood. The winner will play either Ocala Trinity Catholic (22-8) or Clearwater Calvary Christian (28-1) for the championship on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Last Tuesday, however, it appeared that Westminster's season was over … until Khoury slugged a three-run homer, cutting Oxbridge's lead to 8-4.
'That gave us a jolt of energy,' Varsi said. 'It gave us hope.'
In the seventh, Khoury hit a two-run double. Mya Rodgers' two-bagger tied the score, and Jasmine Armenteros had the game-winning single.
Two days later, the Warriors started a rally in the sixth inning once again, scoring four runs to close their deficit to 7-5.
In the seventh, the Warriors were down to the last out of their season, and the bottom of the lineup was due up. But eight-hole hitter Abby Barbosa singled, and ninth batter Kelsie Kenny was hit by a pitch, setting up Khoury for a two-run single that sent the game to extra innings.
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Erin Perez hit a walk-off single, sending the Warriors to state.
'This is not the most-talented team we've had here, but it's one of the scrappiest,' Varsi said. 'After our last two wins, the girls believe they're never out of a game.'
Khoury, who has a 5.41 weighted grade-point average and will study biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech next fall, said she feels fortunate to be able to still play the game she loves.
'Maya was the symbol to not take things for granted and to never give up,' Khoury said. 'Her story grounded us and made us approach life with humility, heart and purpose.'
