South Walton relying on experience in playoffs

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. ( WMBB ) — The South Walton softball team is headed back to the Class 4A Region 1 Semi-Final after an extra-innings victory over Arnold.

The Seahawks entered the postseason under .500, but have played the toughest strength of schedule in the Panhandle.

South Walton is led by senior pitching ace Ella Troutt. Earlier this year, Troutt signed to play at the University of Georgia.

Troutt leads the team in most categories. She has a .400 batting average and .68 ERA.

First-year head coach, Raiven Bryant said all the other players have stepped up this season with Troutt.

“They’re just really rallying around Ella,” Bryant said. “They’ve done a great job of that this year. Instead of relying on her to do everything for them, they’ve stepped up. In every game, it’s someone different.”

Bryant said the key player from the quarter-final match against Arnold was freshman catcher, Zoey Kreinus. She helped secure the victory with three RBIs in extra innings.

The six-seed Seahawks will visit two-seed Baker County in the region semi-final on Tuesday, May 14.

South Walton fell to Baker County 9-0 last year in the semi-final.

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