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LONGWOOD — All Chloe Bailey was needed was a pair of RBIs from Anabelle Shackelford and Natalie Miller.
Building on a postseason where she's pitched a no-hitter, on back-to-back days, sick covered in hives and in extras while not missing a single inning, Niceville's ace struck out 10 and stranded the tying run at second base to finish off a three-hitter in a 2-1 win over Braden River in a 5A state semifinal at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.
The tour de force from Bailey has added up to 46 strikeouts and just five earned runs allowed in 29 innings pitched since regionals began. Now top-seeded Niceville is 7-1 all time in the state semifinals, making state finals appearances in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2025 and now this year.
Baker's Best: Matt Brunson set to be enshrined in FHSAA HOF
The junior's run support came in the second inning, a high throw to first allowing Sydney Hann to reach second to lead it off. Valerie Malley singled up the middle off Kaydence Evans to put runners on the corners and Shackelford came through in the clutch, lacing a double to the wall in right-center field to put the Eagles up 1-0. Natalie Miller followed with a grounder to short that scored Malley on a 6-5 force out. That's all Bailey needed.
Against a lineup batting a collective .416, the right-hander entered the seventh inning with just a hit and walk allowed. But Sarai Castro led off with a double and came around on an Evans single to center to draw a meeting in the circle with Hensley, Bailey and the infield. Bailey buckled down, getting a pop up to third and a grounder to second to move Evans into scoring position. She then dotted the outside corner to catch a looking Cady Jones, who struck out three times on the morning.
Niceville (24-7) celebrated at third base, an all-too-familiar feeling for a team ready to avenge last year's 4-3 loss to Winter Springs. A team ready to create a different narrative for a program that is 1-5 in state title games and last won it all in 2011.
"We felt like we were the better team last year, and the girls are hungry to prove this is their year," said Niceville skipper Danny Hensley, who earlier this year celebrated his 500th win.
Now the Eagles, ranked No. 1 in 5A, will watch the other semifinal between second-seeded, defending champ Winter Springs and third-seeded Pembroke Pines Charter. The winner will face Niceville at 1 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville softball in 5A state final behind Chloe Bailey
Continue reading...
Building on a postseason where she's pitched a no-hitter, on back-to-back days, sick covered in hives and in extras while not missing a single inning, Niceville's ace struck out 10 and stranded the tying run at second base to finish off a three-hitter in a 2-1 win over Braden River in a 5A state semifinal at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.
The tour de force from Bailey has added up to 46 strikeouts and just five earned runs allowed in 29 innings pitched since regionals began. Now top-seeded Niceville is 7-1 all time in the state semifinals, making state finals appearances in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2025 and now this year.
Baker's Best: Matt Brunson set to be enshrined in FHSAA HOF
The junior's run support came in the second inning, a high throw to first allowing Sydney Hann to reach second to lead it off. Valerie Malley singled up the middle off Kaydence Evans to put runners on the corners and Shackelford came through in the clutch, lacing a double to the wall in right-center field to put the Eagles up 1-0. Natalie Miller followed with a grounder to short that scored Malley on a 6-5 force out. That's all Bailey needed.
Against a lineup batting a collective .416, the right-hander entered the seventh inning with just a hit and walk allowed. But Sarai Castro led off with a double and came around on an Evans single to center to draw a meeting in the circle with Hensley, Bailey and the infield. Bailey buckled down, getting a pop up to third and a grounder to second to move Evans into scoring position. She then dotted the outside corner to catch a looking Cady Jones, who struck out three times on the morning.
Niceville (24-7) celebrated at third base, an all-too-familiar feeling for a team ready to avenge last year's 4-3 loss to Winter Springs. A team ready to create a different narrative for a program that is 1-5 in state title games and last won it all in 2011.
"We felt like we were the better team last year, and the girls are hungry to prove this is their year," said Niceville skipper Danny Hensley, who earlier this year celebrated his 500th win.
Now the Eagles, ranked No. 1 in 5A, will watch the other semifinal between second-seeded, defending champ Winter Springs and third-seeded Pembroke Pines Charter. The winner will face Niceville at 1 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville softball in 5A state final behind Chloe Bailey
Continue reading...
