Oakleaf High School- At 27-2 the Oakleaf Lady Knights have enjoyed one of the best seasons in their softball history. They’ve captured wins against teams like St. Thomas Aquanis, Mandarin, Gainesville and their rival Orange Park. They’re two losses, an away game in Ft Lauterdale vs St. Thomas and an away game in extra innings against West Nassau. They are truly the best team in our region, and they proved it this week defeating Atlantic Coast 4-1 in the 8A Regional Semifinals.
Oakleaf’s Kelsey Sweatt led her team on the mound giving up only one run against the talented Stingrays. That run was courtesy of a Sam Howard RBI for Coast that put them up 1-0. The game wouldn’t stay there for long as Oakleaf’s bats started to heat up when Becca Koskey and Haley Willis both brough in runs to take the lead 2-1. The lady Knights would not look back from that point on. Madison Mifsud stole two bases and scored when Rebecca Marks hit a single to make it 3-1 oakleaf. Tracey Ferguson finished out the scoring brining in the 4th run of the afternoon.
Sweatt finished the day with 9 strikeouts, her last ending any hope for an Atlantic Coast comeback. Her ability to take it the distance embodies the motto that Head Coach Christina Thompson teaches. “No one will out work us” said Thompson. “We go into every game respecting our opponent, we never overlook anybody and we work hard”. With this mentality, opponents will find it hard pressed to surprise the Lady Knights. Oakleaf next will take their show on the road to face Strawberry Crest in Dover Florida.
Good Luck to the Lady Knights!
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