TAMPA - Lake Highland Prep (22-5) won its second straight state title by defeating the Gainesville P.K. Yonge Blue Wave 3-0.
Behind the pitching and hitting of senior Michelle Grinage, the Highlanders overcame their 18-inning, 5-1 victory Wednesday over Florida Christian.
Grinage (18-5) went the distance against Yonge (24-9), striking out five. Against Florida Christian on Wednesday, she struck out 28.
In the fourth, it was consecutive two-base hits by Grinage and her battery mate, Carly Winger, that ignited a three-run rally that resulted in Lake Highland's victory.
Shortstop Renee LaCroix, a senior, finished her career by going 2-for-3.
"This is a great day for us," Grinage said. "Even though I pitched 25 innings in less than 24 hours, I was so pumped up, I could have pitched even more. It's so great to win a state championship two years in a row."
5A: Naples two-hits Eau Gallie to face Chiefs
TAMPA - Naples it defeated Eau Gallie 1-0 and will look to capture its second state title in three years tonight.
Naples scored the game's only run when shortstop Brittany Boltz doubled to left with one out in the fifth. Then with two down, Erin Bamrick singled to left, bringing in Bamrick with the winning run.
Ingrid Schumacher (13-2) went the distance for Naples, allowing two hits, while Lindsay Graham (16-2) took the loss for the Commodores.
Eau Gallie attempted to rally in the seventh, but the potential tying run was stranded as Schumacher retired the final three batters after giving up a leadoff single to Graham.
3A: Bartow, Navarre advance with pitching
TAMPA - Bartow (31-0-1) showed why it is the No. 1-ranked team in the nation as it defeated Gulliver Prep 7-0 in a semifinal Thursday.
Hooked up in a scoreless duel for four innings, the Yellow Jackets exploded for six runs in the fifth to put the game away. Utilizing the "bunt and steal" brand of softball for which it is known, Bartow scored six runs on four hits, three errors and five stolen bases.
In the other semifinal, Cocoa's Sara Gordon stayed in a tight pitchers' duel with Navarre's Angela Lopez for five hitless innings. But in the final two innings, Gordon gave up four hits and her teammates threw in five errors, allowing the Raiders to take a 5-0 victory.
Sophomore centerfielder Amanda Maubach paced the Raiders, getting on base three times in three trips to the plate. She walked, hit a pair of singles and scored two runs.
Junior second baseman Tiffany Newman also scored twice. Lopez (13-5) recorded the win and the only RBI of the game.
A: Big first inning enough for Wewahitchka
TAMPA - With the help of three hits and four Bronson errors, Wewahitchka jumped out front with five runs in the first inning and didn't stop until knocking off the rattled Eagles 8-1.
Bronson's only run came in the bottom of the seventh with the help of the Gators' only error.
Sophomore right-hander Laura Husband recorded the win, extending her record to 24-2 for the season. Husband struck out six and yielded two hits and one walk.
Lindsay Miller, Kayla Rich and Husband scored two runs each to help the Gators' offensive effort.
Ashley Durden suffered the loss for Bronson, dropping her record to 7-5.
