Seven innings were played during the final weekend of the Key West High junior varsity softball season, but that was across two games, both of which were mercy-rule victories for the Lady Conchs, first beating Coral Reef, 16-0, then topping South Dade, 14-0, on Saturday, April 20, in Miami.
A 10-run outburst in the second inning of the opening matchup propelled Key West to the victory, which was more than enough for starting pitcher Lilee Gage who in three shutout innings surrendered four walks and no hits while striking out seven. The offense did the rest to end the game early, collecting 10 hits as a team led by Gianna Wardlow’s solo home run and single. Kaleya Cervantes contributed tripled and singled for two RBI, Maicee Gage reached safely with a trio of hits, two of which were doubles for two RBI, with singles were Brianna Brenner and Ava Artigue, while Lilee Gage helped herself to the win with a double.
It took one more inning for the next game to come to an early end, as every Lady Conch in the lineup had at least a base hit, and Key West finished with 15 as a team. Leading the slugfest for Key West were the Gage twins, as Maicee was 4-for-4 out of the leadoff spot and Lilee tripled as part of her two-hit four-RBI performance. Mary Searcy also tripled, Wardlow came through with a double, and with base hits were Addison Means, Genesis Rocha, Cervantes, and Lia Marty.
Joining in the hit parade with a double and single for three RBI was starting pitcher Ryleigh Harnish, who was just a hit away from a perfect game as she struck out 10 of the 13 batters she faced for the shutout victory.
With the season now coming to a close, some of the JV players will be called upon to potentially help the Lady Conchs attempt to make a third-straight run to the FHSAA State Final Four. In order to garner a berth into the state playoff, Key West will likely need to defend its district championship against St. Brendan on Thursday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m.
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