ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High softball coach Angela Agurkis, a region final finisher last year for the Panthers in her rookie season, finally got the game that she had been hoping that her team would have after a dismal regular season as the Panthers used late-inning hits and nifty baserunning to take a 3-0 district 2-5A win Monday night at Orange Park High School.
The Panthers, 11-12 for their regular season schedule, came to the district tournament as a fifth seed with Orange Park four.
"We had a come to Jesus meeting among ourselves and decided to play for each other," said Agurkis. "They are playing for each other not just themselves anymore. We got some big hits and some big plays tonight."
For Agurkis, the exuberance of the playoff win comes with a price as in the stands observing the morphing of the Panthers back to a possible region powerhouse like last year was the Middleburg High softball team; top seed at 20-3, awaiting the Tuesday semifinal game. Gainesville, No. 2, hosts No. 3 Columbia in the other semifinal with a Fri., May 2 championship game.
When asked if two playoff wins in a row are in the cards, Agurkis was succinct.
"We are going to make it happen," said Agurkis, in a non-brash, but confident moment endorsed by her resume of a state title with Oakleaf, her success at NCAA Div. II powerhouse University of West Florida, and her rookie season explosion last season; 19-7, region final. "It's coming at the right time."
Ridgeview scored two runs in the fourth inning off a Hannah Crosby double to the center field fence then added another run in the fifth off a well-placed bunt that got fumbled by the Orange Park defense with pinch baserunner Taryn Canik at second base after a single by Morgan Money.
On the mound, Saige Bialek finished with eight strikeouts.
In the other quarterfinal, Gainesville advanced on a BYE while Columbia beat No. 8 Lincoln 8-0.
In district 3-5A, No. 3 Clay beat No. 6 St. Augustine 12-3 behind 11 strikeouts from pitcher Mckinsey Bardroff and three hits from Hailie Miera; a double and two singles.
Clay had a five-run fourth inning and four more in the fifth.
Clay, 9-16, advances to play No. 2 Ponte Vedra (13-11) with No. 1 Fleming Island (17-7) advancing on a BYE to face No. 4 Beachside (8-15) on Tues., April 30 with a Wed., May 1 championship game.
In district 3-6A, Oakleaf (15-8), after a BYE as the No. 1 seed, will host No. 4 Bucholz while No. 2 Nease hosts No. 6 Tocoi Creek on Tues., April 30 with a Thurs., May 1 championship game.
Oakleaf (No. 10 in 6A) finished their regular season with a 3-0 loss to Middleburg (16th in FL, No. 1 in 5A), then a 4-2 win over Baldwin (23-1, No. 3 in 3A), then a 5-4 loss to Columbia (12-10, No. 16 5A), then a 3-2 win over Nease (14-7, 23rd in 6A).
In district 3-3A, Keystone Heights, the No. 1 seed hosts Taylor on Tues., April 30; Taylor a 13-12 win over Interlachen on Monday.
Keystone Heights ended their season with a 15-0 loss to Baldwin and a 7-2 loss to West Nassau (16-7). Keystone Heights beat Taylor 4-1 on April 18.
In district 2-2A, St. Johns Country Day School, 10-4, hosts Bishop Snyder on Tues., April 30.
The Spartans lost their last regular season game to Menendez 8-0 after winning seven games in a row.