Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Bayshore lead area hopefuls in postseason softball
MANATEE -- It was 2005 and an undefeated regular season, coupled with a national ranking, conjured the thought that a deep state tournament run was in the cards for the Lakewood Ranch girls softball team.
It never happened.
The Mustangs' unbeaten regular season vanished as quickly as the postseason got started.
Port Charlotte defeated Lakewood Ranch, 1-0, in a district semifinal and handed the Mustangs star pitcher that season, Melissa Dowling, her lone loss.
Fast-forward to 2016 and Dowling is the head coach at Braden River, which has rolled past district foes without much trouble.
"We start every game like it's the first game of our season," Dowling said. "That they have something to prove. That nobody knows who they are. It's a new year, and they have to show what they've got. I think they understand on Tuesday that if we don't win, we're done."
The Pirates (18-2, 8-0 district) feature a lineup that's hit a collective .414 this season. Senior Bethaney Keen (.600) tops the team, while junior Sarah Crawford is hitting .500 with a team-best six home runs. Fellow juniors Myah Moy (.587) and
Brooke Farrow (.429), and senior Linda Ross (.436) are also hitting at a high clip.
"We've been able to make adjustments at the plate, which has ensured us to score so many runs," Dowling said. " We're putting up numbers that are like football scores."
Similar to Braden River, this year's Lakewood Ranch Mustangs also pack a potent lineup anchored by Denali Schappacher (.532 average, 32 runs) and Kinsey Goelz (.437 average, three home runs, six doubles, 23 RBIs and 27 runs) leading the way.
The Mustangs also possess a strong one-two combo in the pitcher's circle. Logan Newton and Kailey Christian average more than a strikeout per inning.
"Logan has a ton of movement on her ball and she's able to get a lot of pop outs and ground outs," Lakewood Ranch head coach Maggie Feix said.
Christian has 100 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched this season.
"Kailey has a little bit more power behind her pitch," Feix said.
It's added up to a 20-4 record and No. 6 ranking in the Miracle Sports Florida High School Class 8A softball poll.
And just as Dowling has preached to the Pirates, the Mustangs are using a personal experience as fuel to stay concentrated on each playoff opponent.
Ranch returned every player, except one, off last year's team that was ousted early in district tournament action against East Manatee rival Braden River.
"That's definitely been something that has been on their minds," Feix said. "But at the same time, it's more game by game and we like to keep our eyes on the prize. And at the same time, put one foot in front of the other and take care of it little by little."
The two East Manatee powers aren't the lone county programs having standout seasons.
Bayshore has the makings of an under-the-radar club, since the Bruins don't possess a state ranking this season. They're the top seed for the Class 5A-11 tournament with a 12-3 record, and they have a healthy Miriam Schmoll, who has rebounded from a torn anterior cruciate ligament last season, leading the way. Bayshore's LaShara James has crushed the ball offensively this season, and is heading to South Florida next year.
But first they're looking to bring the Bruins back to where they were two years ago: a state semifinal appearance.
"Growing up here in Bradenton, no Manatee County school in the sport of softball has ever won a state championship," Dowling said. "Obviously, I would like my team to be the first to do so, if we can make a good, deep run. But it's good for our city, it's good for Manatee County. It's good for Sarasota County. When you think Bradenton, you also lump in Sarasota. And these two counties have had a lot of success over the years It's good for this area."
Southeast is in Bayshore's district, while Manatee faces Ranch in Tuesday's 8A-8 semifinal. Palmetto is also in the Mustangs' and Hurricanes' district, and are hosting Sarasota in the other semifinal after winning a coin toss for home field advantage with the Sailors.
Bradenton Christian and Saint Stephen's are competing in the 3A-5 tournament at Largo Indian Rocks Christian. St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut is the top seed, while IRC is ranked No. 10 in the latest Miracle Sports poll.
Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald
This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Bayshore lead area hopefuls in postseason softball ."