While the Central Lady Jaguar Softball team advances in the playoffs, the Milton High School Lady Panthers finished their historic post season run this week.
On Tuesday night, MHS fell, 1-0, to Oakleaf High School in the second round of their playoff run. The MHS team previously defeated Columbia High School, last Thursday.
MHS Coach Danny Worrell credited the play of freshmen pitcher Megan Robertson and the team’s defense. Robertson only gave up two walks in the game, which went into an extra inning.
In addition to making past the first round in the playoffs, the Lady Panthers also made school history by winning back-to-back district titles.
Although the 16-12 season came to an end, Worrell is proud of what the team has accomplished.
“We stepped up our competition level in the playoffs and that it what it is all about,” Worrell said. “Overall, we had a good year.”
This year’s success in the post season gives the team something to build upon for next season, he said. In addition to bringing in freshmen grade talent from the school’s junior varsity team to the varsity level, the team will also have returning pitchers in order to make another post season run.
After defeating Vernon High School, 5-1 at home on Wednesday, The Central’s Lady Jaguars are scheduled to face off against Sneads on Friday. According to Coach Nick Golden, Sneads is ranked number one in the state for their division.
Sneads defeated Central last year, 8-0, Golden said. The coach said the team is mindset will not change when preparing for upcoming matchup.
“We are going to continue to do what we do, which is give the best we got,” he said.
This time, Golden believes his team will be better prepared for Sneads.
“We were not ready for that (game), it was personally a learning experience for me,” he said. “If it were not for the numbers errors we had, it would have been a closer game.”
Last season, the Lady Jaguars averaged around 6 to 7 errors a game, this season the team averages around one, Golden said.
While the team has continues to excel at bat, pitching and defense has “been carrying us throughout the season,” he said.
In addition to the pitching from Lacee Stewart, Golden also credited the offensive play from Maklayla Simmons and Brittney Amey for Wednesday night’s victory.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Softball: Central advances in playoffs, Milton concludes historic season