Eau Gallie softball cruises past Seabreeze, advances to regional semis
Eau Gallie softball cruises past Seabreeze, advances to regional semis
Sam Ficarro, Florida TodayThu, May 7, 2026 at 10:07 AM UTC
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Eau Gallie softball began its road in the Class 4A state tournament on Wednesday, May 6, in the Region 2 quarterfinals versus No. 8 Seabreeze.
The top-seeded Commodores were efficient at the plate, scoring in three of four innings. In the circle, senior Jordan Stout threw a 5-inning shutout in a 10-0 win.
“I think we did pretty well. I feel like there were definitely some things that we need to work on,” Stout said. “I feel like we were just a little bit nervous, but other than that I feel like we adjusted really well from our first at-bat to the second and third at-bats.”
Stout allowed 2 hits and struck out 9 hitters, her third-highest strikeout total in a game this season.
The senior stranded Sandcrabs on base in four of five innings. In the second inning, Stout struck out the side.
“I felt like I had an off game the game before this, so this past week I’ve sat there and worked on the stuff I was doing wrong,” Stout said. “I feel like I just really found my spins and found my rhythm.”
Eau Gallie received contributions from every player. Eight of the nine Commodores recorded at least one hit and seven scored at least one run.
Eau Gallie junior Shyla Eppert recorded a 3-hit game with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Juniors Leah Pechart, Abigail Latulippe and Kali McMillan tallied 2 hits each. Latulippe and senior Ainsley O’Dell drove in 2 runs. Pechart scored twice.
“In the beginning half, they had to wait on the ball and were just being impatient or anxious,” Eau Gallie head coach Gabe Caride said. “Once they got their timing in, I feel like they settled in. They started seeing pitches go by instead of swinging at the first pitch so they could judge the speed.”
Spike Pechart of Eau Gallie dives for a Seabreeze grounder during their game in the Class 4A state softball tournament May 6, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
In the first inning, Latulippe opened the scoring with a 2-run single. Eau Gallie doubled the lead to 4-0 in the third on an RBI single by Eppert and an RBI double by O’Dell.
The Commodores broke the game open in the fourth, scoring 6 runs and sending 11 batters to the plate.
They scored a run in five consecutive at-bats beginning on an RBI fielder’s choice by senior Hannah Leech. The senior scored on a bunt single by McMillan and a throwing error by Seabreeze to increase the lead to 6-0.
Pechart doubled home McMillan to make it 7-0. Eppert and sophomore Evie Martin laced back-to-back RBI singles with O’Dell hitting an RBI sac fly to cap the 6-run frame.
“They have so much grit,” Caride said. “They’re not in a situation that they’re not used to, so they’ve always been in certain situations of runner on third, runner on second, bases loaded, whatever. They’ve been in it through it all. They’ve been playing together for such a long time.”
Eau Gallie returns to the dirt on Tuesday, May 12, for the Class 2A, Region 2 semifinals against No. 5 Merritt Island.
The Commodores won both regular-season meetings against the Mustangs.
“I hope it keeps our energy up,” Stout said. “There’s so much stuff we need to work on. This is a good push forward to the next upcoming games.”
Seabreeze (11-13) 000 00 – 0 2 3
Eau Gallie (22-3) 202 6X – 10 13 2
Class 4A, Region 2
No. 5 Merritt Island 14, No. 4 Vanguard 0
Merritt Island scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 5-inning win in Ocala.
The Mustangs took advantage of eight Knights errors as 10 of their 14 runs were unearned.
Senior Elena Rollen led the offense with 2 hits, 1 double, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. In the circle, senior Rindi Amos tossed a 1-hit shutout recording 2 walks and 9 strikeouts.
Merritt Island advances to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2016.
Merritt Island (11-14) 703 13 – 14 11 0
Vanguard (11-9) 000 00 – 0 1 8
No. 6 Satellite 6, No. 3 Lake Region 5
Satellite, playing in its first state playoff game since 2014, was down to its final out of the game, trailing 5-3 at Lake Region. The Scorpions recorded four consecutive singles to take the lead.
After singles by sophomore Hailey Veon and senior Isabella Barrera, courtesy runners Makayla O’Brien and Finley Parker scored on a passed ball and an error, respectively, to tie the game. Scorpions sophomore Elysse Fredenburg broke the tie with an RBI single to score sophomore Hope Robaina.
Lake Region singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh. The runner reached third base on a passed ball with two outs, but a ground out ended the game.
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Barrera finished the game 4-for-4 with 2 RBI at the plate and a complete game performance allowing two earned runs and striking out five hitters. Veon hit 3-for-3 with 1 triple.
Satellite advances to the regional semifinals and will play at No. 2 Lake Wales on Tuesday.
Satellite (10-14) 002 010 3 – 6 12 3
Lake Region (8-16) 110 – 201 0 – 5 9 4
Class 3A, Region 2
No. 3 Crystal River 1, No. 6 Astronaut 0
An RBI sac fly in the bottom of the sixth by Crystal River proved to be the only offense needed in a pitcher’s duel.
Astronaut managed four singles, including two in the third. The threat was ended on a fielder’s choice. The War Eagles stranded in a runner in scoring position in the fourth.
Junior Riley Miller allowed 1 unearned run on 7 hits and 1 walk. Miller recorded 4 strikeouts.
Astronaut finishes the season with a 14-8 record.
Astronaut (14-8) 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Crystal River (19-8) 000 001 X – 1 7 1
Class 2A, Region 2
No. 1 The First Academy 15, No. 8 Space Coast 6
Space Coast carried a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth, but The First Academy plated 13 runs in the next two innings to pull away for the win.
Kami Dacko led the Space Coast offense with 3 hits, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored. Kodibeth Bates tallied 2 RBI.
The Vipers end the year with an 11-12 record.
Space Coast (11-12) 220 011 0 – 6 8 0
The First Academy (21-3) 100 761 X – 15 16 0
No. 4 Trinity Catholic 8, No. 5 Melbourne Central Catholic 3
Trinity Catholic did most of its damage at the beginning of the game, scoring 7 runs in the first three innings.
Melbourne Central Catholic senior Amanda Carter batted 3-for-4 with 1 double and 2 runs scored. Hustlers senior Rylie Lovett doubled, tripled and scored one run.
Melbourne Central Catholic completes a 14-8 campaign.
Melbourne Central Catholic (14-8) 000 120 0 – 3 7 2
Trinity Catholic (15-11) 412 010 X – 8 9 4
Class 1A, Region 4
No. 4 Master’s Academy (Vero Beach) 8, No. 5 Merritt Island Christian 1
In a rematch of last week’s district championship matchup, Master’s Academy defeated Merritt Island Christian for the second-straight game by scoring runs in the final 4 innings.
The Cougars spoiled the shutout in the seventh on an RBI double by senior Mia Rose. Sophomore Sayler Aldrich singled twice.
Merritt Island Christian finish a 12-7 season.
Merritt Island Christian (12-7) 000 000 1 – 1 4 3
Master’s Academy (19-7) 002 123 X – 8 12 1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Eau Gallie softball defeats Seabreeze in regional quarterfinals
Source: “AOL Sports”
