KISSIMMEE – With a “Texas Tie-Breaker” used to determine the tournament champion, the Oakleaf High Lady Knights softball team cemented a 1-0 win over Kentucky state champions Scott County High to top the Blue bracket of the prestigious Kissimmee Klassic softball invitational on Friday and Saturday, April 7-8 in Kissimmee.

The Texas Tie Breaker is a unique tool used in softball that comes into play after a game ends tied after seven innings. A baserunner is put at second base and the teams get shots to score from there.

For Oakleaf, Tracy Ferguson became the hero for the weekend successes with her run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth inning scoring Kaylee Lambrecht, a pinch runner for catcher Haley Willis who was placed at second base to start the overtime inning. Jenna Curtis bunted Willis to third to set up Ferguson’s gamewinner.

For the tournament, Oakleaf High senior pitcher Kelsey Sweatt was named the Most Outstanding Player while teammate Angela Agurkis was named the offensive player of the tournament.

“Kelsey is a gamer, she thrives on competition,” said Oakleaf coach Christina Thompson. “Angela has one of the prettiest swings I have ever seen. Her addition has been a blessing.”

Oakleaf, after a 4-1 win over 5A-West Nassau (14-4) on April 4, traveled to Kissimmee as the top seed in the Blue Bracket that featured such stellar teams as Winter Springs, Viera, Aucilla Christian, Bartow, Timber Creek and Gainesville high schools. Kentucky’s Scott County (14-2) was the second seed for the tournament. Both teams have flirted with top 10 rankings nationally by numerous polls.

“West Nassau was a great precursor before heading to Kissimmee,” said Thompson.

Oakleaf (18-2) opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Winter Springs, an 8A power at 15-5 overall, with Agurkis bashing the lone RBI for the night with Katie Kirstler doubling to lead off the inning and Alex Acevedo successfully bunting Kirstler to third before Agurkis’ blast.

In the fifth, Winter Springs threatened with two baserunners reaching third, but Sweatt held and the Knights’ defense stiffened with a pick off play and a flyout. In the seventh, Oakleaf registered a game-ending double play to end the game.

In game two, against 9A-Timber Creek (11-2, region finalist), a 3-0 win, Oakleaf got runs in the third, fourth and sixth inning off seven hits; two RBIs from Acevedo and one from Kistler. Sweatt pitched for seven strikeouts.

In game three, Oakleaf survived a 3-1 third inning deficit into the seventh inning before scoring three runs off a barrage of hits including a Willis single, a Rebecca Marks fielder’s choice single, an error to Ferguson that set up RBI hits from Acevedo and Agurkis to beat 7A-Viera (18-3, region finalist). Agurkis hit a two-run double. Madi Davis pitched for three strikeouts against six hits.

In the Gold division, Clay High opened with a 6-1 loss to Bishop Moore as the Hornets hit for three seventh inning runs against Morgan Crutcher who had nine strikeouts. Clay left nine baserunners on base.

Clay lost a 6-4 game to Tampa Plant in round two with Blue Devils’ coach Matt Lewis utilizing three pitchers; Charlotte DeNapoli, Morgan Silvis and Crutcher in relief to try and stop the Panthers’ batting lineup.

Tampa opened a 6-0 lead into the fourth where Clay scored two runs in the fourth off errors and two more in the fifth off a two-run single from DeLaney Anfinson to close the gap.

In game three, Clay knocked out a familier foe, Columbia Lake City, 7-3 in a game highlighted by two RBIs from Hailey Stone and one each from Allison Byrd and Charlotte DeNapoli.

Clay finished with an 11-3 win over Riverview with 13 hits and five strikeouts from Crutcher.