Cinderella of Clermont: Spanish River softball completes underdog run with state title
The Cinderella of Clermont is now state champion of Florida.
The Spanish River softball team won the Class 7A state championship on Saturday afternoon with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Plant (Tampa) at the Legends Way Ball Fields.
Head coach Ashley Byrd and the Sharks (17-8-1) completed one of the most improbable state championship runs in recent FHSAA softball history with the victory over the Panthers (27-5).
Spanish River, which entered postseason play with a No. 7 region seed and a No. 94 overall ranking in Florida, upset Lake Brantley — the Class 7A No. 1 and state No. 3 — and Plant — the Class 7A No. 2 and state No. 5 — on back-to-back days.
The Sharks are the lowest region seed to win a softball state championship since the FHSAA adopted its power ranking playoff qualification system in 2021.
"We kept reiterating to the kids that we're the seventh seed, we're not supposed to be here and we have nothing to lose," Byrd said. "I think we kept reiterating it and our girls stepped up to the plate and gave everything they had.
"We used the [underdog label] in a good manner. We got a second chance after districts and we made a promise to ourselves that if we got a shot with the [at-large] bid that we'd move forward with no regrets."
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How it happened
Senior captain Isabella Santos broke open a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a solo home run that narrowly tucked inside the right field foul pole.
A single in the next at-bat chased Plant starter Cassidy Masters in favor of junior Addison Swink, who saw out the inning with no extra damage.
The Sharks' lead didn't last, however, as Plant opened the bottom of the fourth with three consecutive singles to tie the game. A sacrifice fly then allowed the Panthers to pull ahead 2-1.
Swink held the Sharks at bay until the top of the sixth inning when Spanish River manufactured a pair of runs. Sophia Camacho led off with a single and Santos followed with a double off the fence in right center. Tamsin Scarrett then singled up the middle to tie the game.
The Sharks found their championship run later in the inning when junior Julia Massarella laid down a perfect RBI sacrifice bunt to first base to give Spanish River a lead.
Sophomore pitcher Giselle Portanova navigated a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning and posted a clean seventh to lift the Sharks to the state championship.
"The final out was one of the best moments of my life," Portanova said. "The feeling was so amazing and words can't describe how grateful I am for this team."
Portanova allowed five hits and two earned runs over seven innings, striking out five batters and walking just two. She was the controversial subject of several illegal pitch calls during the Sharks' state semifinal win, but wasn't called for any such infractions in the final.
"She's a workhorse," Byrd said. "The kid has a mound presence like you wouldn't imagine. There isn't much that phases her.
"If they hit a bomb off her, she's right back and onto the next one. If she strikes someone out, there's no change in excitement. ... She's one helluva pitcher."
Underdogs no more
Spanish River entered postseason play as a No. 7 regional at-large seed after losing to Boca Raton (9-9-1) in the district semifinals.
The Sharks then stormed to a region title with road wins at Western, Stoneman Douglas and Miami Coral Reef to qualify for the FHSAA state semifinals for the first time in postseason history. Byrd said she felt the momentum turn with her program after the bounceback win over Western in the first round.
"It was the real big motivating push that made us feel like, 'Hey, we can do this,'" Byrd said.
The Sharks drew Lake Brantley on Friday in the program's first-ever state semifinal appearance. The Patriots, who finished as Class 7A state runner-up last season, were ranked No. 13 nationally and did not allow a run in three regional wins.
However, Spanish River lashed the Patriots for double-digit runs in a 13-9 extra-inning victory that left the underdog Sharks just a win away from an improbable state championship.
Plant was no less formidable with its No. 2 ranking in Class 7A and No. 5 overall perch in Florida, per MaxPreps. The Panthers stymied Wellington 2-1 in extra innings on Friday to reach the state final.
"No one expected us to make it this far and we proved everyone wrong," Portanova said. "We faced many challenges this season and overcame every one. Playing as the "underdog" definitely helped us throughout the end of our season. We used that as motivation to do better and to show everyone how good we really are.
"I definitely think that we made a statement in our playoff run and I wouldn't want to do this with any other team. I'm so grateful for these group of girls and can't wait to see what we do next year."
Santos, whom Byrd deemed the "Mouth of the Dugout" for her leadership role, is the lone senior starter and one of two total that won't return next season to defend the Sharks' state crown.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
Spanish River softball (17-8-1)
2023 Class 7A state champions
Head coach: Ashley Byrd
Taigen Callahan, Jr.
Abygail Gonzalez, Fr.
Julia Massarella, Jr.
Rebecca Bittman, So.
Emma Iovene, Jr.
Olivia Hannaka, Jr.
Shannon Santana, Fr.
Riley Ready, Fr.
Sophia Camacho, Jr.
Giselle Portanova, So.
Giana Gomez, Fr.
Isabella Solomon, So.
Mia Cohen, Fr.
Alaina George, So.
Linda Colon, Sr.
Marley Ruggiero, Fr.
Isabella Santos, Sr.
Tamsin Scarlett, Jr.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Spanish River softball caps underdog run to Class 7A state championship
