OAKLEAF – Behind a strong pitching performance from phenom sophomore Charlotte “Charley” Maddox and a two-run homer by Amya Mirelez, Oakleaf High (10-11) shut out Nease, 7-0, sending the Knights to the District 3-6A championship at the OHS Softball Field on Thursday night. Oakleaf advances into the region 1-6A for a second region run under Han (7A last year) as the Knights will travel to Orlando to take on second seed Hagerty (17-7) on Thurs., May 11.

“Amaya Marilla has all of the power in the world. She’s working through some stuff right now with her swing, but as you can see, when it’s connecting, (the ball) is going to go,” said second-year head coach Heather Han, who now has her second region playoff berths after a region final finish in 2022; a loss to Lake Brantley in region 1-7A. “Charley (Maddox) is always a (standout) in the circle. She works hard for us, and honestly, I’m confident with her in the circle against any team.”

For Han, who was hired to return Oakleaf to Final Four invites after a state title and deep playoff runs under Christina Thompson, commented that her senior leadership; Mariyah Sanchez, Ciara Gibson and Jaidyn Collins has brought the younger players up to championship par in the second half of the season.

“I think our team has started to come together at the right time,” said Han. “It definitely has been paying off. We had some great team play when we went to the Kissimmiee Klassic and have been building on that.”

Oakleaf jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a double by Maddox that scored Meshayla Pettaway.

“Offensively, Meshayla has truly stepped up in our lead off position and has put us in the driver’s seat for several of our games late in the year,” said Han, who had speedster Khloe Banks last year to disrupt opposing defenses as a key lead off hitter who dismantled games with her baserunning prowess. “Mariyah and Charley, next in the batting lineup, have made sure our opponents stay on their heels whenever one of them gets on base.”

It wasn’t until the bottom of the second that the floodgates opened up for Oakleaf. Sophomore Addison Gish walked and junior Amya Mirelez jumped all over a Panthers’ pitch, sending it out of the park and a 3-0 lead for the Knights.

“No matter who is stepping up to the plate or who the ball is hit to, our team has confidence in them to make the play,” said Han.

In the third, Sanchez blasted a single and got to third with some alert baserunning off another Maddox single to set up a run scoring single from Jaidyn Collins to go up 6-0.

Maddox allowed only five hits and three strikeouts and walks. She also was two-for-three at the plate with an RBI.