Lady Mustangs repeat as district champs

The Lakewood Ranch High softball team upset top-seeded Braden River 2-1 to capture its second-consecutive Class 4A-District 10 championship April 22.

Huntyre Elling pitched a complete game for the Lady Mustangs, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight and walking one.

Lakewood took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Jennifer Trotter scored the game’s first run on a RBI single by Taylor Newton. Newton eventually came around to score on a single by Sarah Burnett.

Braden River ace Courtney Mirabella, who notched 17 strikeouts in the Lady Pirates 1-0 regular-season victory over Lakewood, allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one.

Braden River got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mirabella hit a double, driving in Kenya Yancy who reached base on a walk.

Lakewood and Braden River will now advance to the regional tournament. The Lady Mustangs will host District 9 runner-up Tampa Jefferson in a regional quarterfinal April 27 while Braden River will travel to District 9 champion Dover Strawberry Crest.

For a complete story and photos from the Class 4A-District 10 championship pick up the April 28 issue of the East County Observer.