The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Tuesday, May 8, is Alissa Humphrey of the Gainesville softball team.
The sophomore pitched a three-hitter, striking out 15 with only one walk as host Gainesville edged past Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 4-1, in a Region 1-7A semifinal on Tuesday night at GHS.
Humphrey struck out the side in the 2nd, 4th, and 7th innings, and fanned the final four Bartram Trail hitters to finish off the game and move the Hurricanes (22-5) on to a region final this Friday night at Niceville.
Every Bartram Trail hitter except center fielder Maegan O’Brien struck out at least once against Humphrey.
Florida Gulf Coast University signee Reedy Davenport had two of the Bears three hits, including their only run on a solo homer in the 5th inning, her team-leading 8th of the season.
Gainesville also banged out 10 hits and scored runs in each of the first three innings.
Maggie Willis led off the Hurricanes’ first with a double and later came home to score on a Hallie Karas single with two outs for an early 1-0 lead.
Gainesville extended the lead to 2-0 in the 2nd as number 9 hitter Ashton Palmer hit an RBI single to drive in Sidney Karas, who led off the inning with a double.
Karas brought home the Hurricanes third run in the 3rd, bringing in Olivia Hanson with a line drive sacrifice fly to center field.
After Bartram Trail closed to 3-1 in the 5th on the homer by Davenport, Gainesville got the run back in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded walk to freshman Ayanna Woodard.
Everyone in the Gainesville batting order reached base at least once, with Hanson and Hallie Karras each adding two hits apiece and Willis scoring twice.
Bartram Trail ends its season at 26-3, losing to the Hurricanes for the second year in a row. Gainesville won at Bartram Trail 5-2 a year ago in a 7A region quarterfinal game in St. Johns County.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
