Mandarin- Atlantic Coast scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning to pull away for good from Mandarin to be crowned Gateway Conference Champions. Atlantic Coast came into the game underdogs even though they were defending Gateway Tournament Champs. The Stingrays (9-10) had not been playing their best softball leading up to the championship game. Losing 8 of their last 10 regular season games, Head Coach David Matchett knew his team would have to play better in order to have a chance against Mandarin. “It’s no secret that we’ve struggled leading up to this point, trying to find the right pieces to the puzzle, but these young ladies are playing well at the right time”.- David Matchett Atlantic Coast defeated Sandalwood and then Fletcher to arrive back in the championship. Standing in their way was a (16-4 ) Mandarin team who has been one of the best softball clubs in our area. They took care of business against Ed White and then Baldwin to host the title game.
Early it seemed like the game would be close all the way throughout. A pitcher’s duel ensued between Mandarin’s #10 Ashley Wiebenga and Atlantic Coast’s #13 Allison McMullen as the game was scoreless through three innings. Not only was good pitching evident in the contest, but good defense as well. In the second inning, Mandarin loaded the bases with only one out putting the pressure on the Stingrays. 
Yet AC was able to make smart and timely plays in the field , including ones by Kennedy Searcy and Tori Robison to strand Mandarin runners on the bases. The energized play on defense seemed to spark the Atlantic Coast Offense when #7 Shurrell Jeferson, #4 Jordan Hopfe and #14 Maya Harris started connecting with the bats. Jeferson got on base with a single. She was then able to advance to second, and eventually score on double from Harris. Jordan Hopfe would then bring in Harris on a single, setting up #20 Ivy Sellers for a big knock to center field, ballooning the score to 5-0. Atlantic Coast was in the driver seat but couldn’t afford to take their foot off the gas, as Mandarin would respond.
The Mustangs returned in the bottom of the fourth with three runs of their own to make it a game. Mandarin was able to secure runners at first and third when Brianna Arsenault reached base and advanced to third. Soon after, Morgan Gersten was hit by a pitch, which brought in Arsenault for the score. Jessica Uruttia would then hit a double to bring home Kaylee Beauford and Jenaya Simmons. Before Atlantic Coast could blink, the score was 5-3 as the Mustangs got back into the game extremely quick. Yet that would be all she wrote for Mandarin on this evening.
In the fifth, Atlantic Coast would go on another scoring barrage with Ashleigh Paramore bringing in runs on a double. #23 Alyssa Grupp, who was walked earlier in the game set it off with a big hit to left field , blazing around the bases for a triple. 
Searcy would get the RBI to bring in Grupp and the score was now 9-3. An attempt by Mandarin to get back into the game was all but stifled when Jeferson hit a double followed by an incredible shot over the center field wall by Maya Harris to put the game out of reach 13-3. As impressive as the resounding victory was for Atlantic Coast, what might be even more impressive is the fact that many of the Stingrays play makers are underclassmen. Freshman pitcher Allison McMullen only gave up three runs to one of the highest scoring softball teams in Northeast Florida. Freshman Shurrell Jeferson or “Bam Bam” as they affectionately call her, plays with superior confidence no matter the situation. And sophomore Maya Harris showed that she can go yard at anytime, as she captured the 2018 Gateway title with the flick of her bat.
Congratulations Atlantic Coast, your 2017-2018 Softball Gateway Conference Champions.
