Playoff road ends for Ladycats

Playoff road ends for Ladycats

By MELISSA BURNSED

Coach Ashley Rodgers (left) and Heather High watch the action from the dugout.

Baker County’s run in the FHSAA state softball series came to an end Friday afternoon, when they faced off with the nations number one ranked high school team. The Ladycats fell 12 to 1 in a mercy rule shortened five inning game.

The Cats opponents were the Pembroke Pines Jaguars which have been called the best team money can buy. The private school is just one in an ongoing cavalcade of similar teams who have a distinct advantage over public schools in every sport, because they can stack rosters with scholarship players.

For Baker County the loss isn’t the end, because their entire roster except for three seniors will be back next season. Those returning players have been dominating their competition since they came together at Baker County Middle School, where they won the North Florida Crown Conference Championship.

The Ladycats remarkable turn around from a losing season last year to their first ever appearance in the state 4A final four can partially be attributed to first year assistant coach Ashley Rodgers. Mrs. Rodgers has brought a renewed competitive spirit to the squad, as well as a solid focus on having a winning attitude. Rodgers addition to the staff, along with her father Steve Houston have been the sparkplug that ignited the Ladycats to their impressive 22-4 record. That record includes a district and regional championship.

The Jaguars took an early two run lead in the first inning and capitalized on every opportunity to plate runs. They amassed ten hits and capitalized on four costly infield errors committed by Baker, in route to the 12 to 1 victory.

The Ladycats faced a formidable foe in the Jaguars pitcher. Inning after inning, the Baker Ladies went down swinging in order.

Ashley Curry gave the crowd of Wildcats fans something to cheer about when she blasted doubles in the third and fifth innings. Curry’s second hit drove in the Cats lone run, after Bridget Williams had earlier reached on a single and been forced to second by Caitlyn Griffis drawing a walk.

The Ladycats wrote their names into Baker County athletic history, with the high school’s first trip to the state softball finals. Fans at the game, left the Plant City Stadium saying "We’ll be back here again next year."