Clearwater, FL

Santa Fe stayed hot in the FCSAA Division I Softball Championships and knocked off #3 Northwest Florida in the nightcap game.  The Saints had already knocked off Eastern Florida in the 10:00 AM game but came back for the 7:00 PM game with their bats a blazing.  The Saints now will play on Saturday, May 10th at 10:00 AM for a winner takes all FCSAA Division I Softball Championship Bracket B Title against Chipola College.  The winner will receive an automatic bid to the NJCAA Softball World Series in Yuma, Arizona.  

The Saints started hot in the top of the first with an Olivia LaMeau single that scored Karris Rhine on a hook slide into home that got the Saints started.  From there the Saints would score in the top of the first four innings.  In the top of the second with Camryn VanGalder and Tegan Grizzard already on base, Rylie Blankenship executed a slap shot to move the runners and sacrifice herself.  Rhine then hit a double off the center field fence scoring both VanGalder and Grizzard putting the Saints up 3-0.  Madison Conway followed that up with a single up the middle to score Rhine and give the Saints a 4-0 lead.  Northwest Florida was able to push one across in the bottom of two but the Saints came right back up in the top of the three to score again.  This time off a LaMeau steal of home.  All tournament the Saints have relied on the homerun ball for RBI's but this game was different as three Saints had doubles and multiple Saints had RBI's off singles.  The Saints had a well rounded effort in the circle to match their hot bats.  Ryleigh Bennett earned the win and Belle Mancillas struck out two and Alexis Daphney was credited with the save.  The defensive highlights were many but Rhine's catch on a diving center field play prevented the Raiders from getting their bats going.

The Saints now will play for a chance to extend their season to the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series in Yuma, Arizona.  Florida SouthWestern won the 4:00 PM game again Chipola to earn the FCSAA Division I NJCAA South Athlantic District A Champion status which also earns them an automatic bid to Yuma.  Now, Santa Fe and Chipola will play Saturday at 10:00 AM for the NJCAA South Atlantic District B Champion title which also earns an automatic bid to Yuma.

For all information on the tournament please go here.