Winter Springs survives emotional season, repeats as 5A state champs

LONGWOOD - Winter Springs coach Farah Gordon summed up the season perfectly after the Bears successfully defended their 2025 Class 5A championship Saturday at Boombah Soldiers Creek Park.

The Bears went through the postseason holding every opponent scoreless, an impressive 71-0 run through the playoffs in seven games. They defeated Niceville 6-0 in the title game.

The Winter Spring girls battled through the up-and-down emotions of having to deal with the death of teammate Kennedy Jackson, the starting first baseman as a freshman last year. Kennedy died in October and the team was playing for her all season, ending it with a second consecutive state title while fashioning a 24-6 record.

“It’s special. It’s hard to win it once, but winning it twice, it’s like having a target on your back,” Gordon said. “It was just magical and special. We had the loss in October of one of our studs and we were able to come together as a team and realize we are more than softball players. We’re human and just being there for each other, I think that’s what makes it so special.

“We also had her as our guardian angel. The last game she played was in that dugout on this field.”

Winter Springs had taken an early 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a double by junior pitcher Tiffany Seeman; she was knocked in on a single by senior third baseman Adison Pierce.

Junior right fielder Abigail Hooper helped give Winter Springs some breathing room in the fifth with a two-run home run. That woke up the bats.

“It feels great, we’re back again and we’ll be here next year,” said Hooper, who also said she knew the ball was gone the moment she hit it.

“I hit it right on the meat of the bat and it felt so great. I was so happy,” Hooper said.

In the sixth inning, the Bears plated three more runs. Pierce opened the inning with a double off the top of the fence in left field. She came around to score on a sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Madison Barahona and a sacrifice bunt by senior pinch-hitter Bella Reed.

Senior second baseman Lilly Clark kept things going with a single and Hooper walked. Both came around to score on junior catcher Laura Daugherty’s double off the fence in left-center.

Pitchers Seeman and Christina Brisson tagged-teamed in the circle, allowing seven hits and striking out four.

“I just think it’s these girls’ grit and their seniority. I have an older team and just them being in this situation before … they’re just ready for that moment,” Gordon said. “A lot of defense and our pitchers have been lights out … that’s a big key to that.”

The emotion of dealing with Kennedy’s tragic death was difficult. The players developed an even tighter bond. They decided to focus on the path to repeating as state champions as a way to work through their friend’s death - and to honor her.

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"It's amazing, especially because we were missing Kennedy out there," Hooper said. "We love her and I couldn't stop thinking about her the entire season. I miss her so much.

"It was very hard for us, but we're all very strong … I feel like we all got closer after that, but it was really tough for us … .but we're here and we won, times two."

The Bears are the first Orlando area fastpitch softball team to repeat since West Orange turned the trick in 2016 and 2017.

Their win, coupled with Hagerty's 7A state championship, marks the first time two Seminole County teams have won FHSAA championships in the same year. It's the fifth Seminole County state softball title and fourth in the past nine years - including Hagerty's first championship in 2018 and Winter Springs' first title in 2019. Lake Mary was a champion in 1998.

The 71 unanswered runs is a pretty incredible feat to consider, and Gordon emphasized the Bears’ experience and the defense.

“Yeah, I’ve never heard of it. Even when I played, back in my high school days, that didn’t happen,” Gordon said. “Most of our infield are seniors and they’ve done a great job. The pitchers do a great job attacking, working ground balls and then just all-around, defensively, we’re great.”

Chris Hays can be found on x.com @OS_ChrisHays.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:51 PM.