Niceville softball team, led by players Hann and Shackelford, has advanced to the region finals after defeating Gulf Breeze 6-3 in the semi-finals.
Key points
Niceville softball team advances to region finals
Defeated Gulf Breeze 6-3 in semi-finals
Key players include Hann and Shackelford
Chloe Bailey is the starting pitcher
NicevilleGulf BreezeChloe Bailey
Hann, Shackelford launch Niceville softball into region finals
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey receives the ball during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville. The Lady Eagles won 6-3 to advance to the final.
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey winds up for a pitch during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey in her motion during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Gulf Breeze starting pitcher Jessica Jagar throws during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Q&A
What was the score of the Niceville vs Gulf Breeze softball game?
The Niceville softball team won the game against Gulf Breeze with a score of 6-3.
Who are the key players for Niceville softball in the region finals?
Chloe Bailey, along with players Hann and Shackelford, are key contributors for the Niceville softball team.
When is the Niceville softball team playing in the region finals?
The exact date for the Niceville softball team's region finals game has not been specified.
How did Niceville softball perform in the semi-finals?
Niceville softball performed well in the semi-finals, securing a 6-3 victory over Gulf Breeze.
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Gulf Breeze starter Jessica Jagar delivers a pitch during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Niceville baserunner Quinn Graham moves to third during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Nicevilles Layla Hughes reaches third safely during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Nicevilles Layla Hughes scores the games first run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Niceville batter Molly Mayfield watches a high pitch pass during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Niceville runner Coley Gatwood slides safely into second during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Gulf Breeze infielder Ashlynn Stemcosky forces Niceville runner Coley Gatwood at third during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
The ball gets past Niceville catcher Molly Mayfield during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Gulf Breeze baserunner Ashlynn Stemcosky slides safely into home as the Lady Dolphins rally from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville. Niceville would go on to score three more runs to advance to the regional final.
Gulf Breezes Ashlynn Stemcosky reacts after scoring during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
The Niceville dugout empties after a home run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Gulf Breeze runner Sally Alberson dives safely back to the bag during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Niceville players greet Sydney Hann at the plate after she smashed a home run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Anabelle Shackelford is mobbed by teammates after hitting a home run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Gulf Breeze infielder Sally Alberson fields a bouncer during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey awaits the pitch call during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
1 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey receives the ball during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville. The Lady Eagles won 6-3 to advance to the final.
1 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey receives the ball during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville. The Lady Eagles won 6-3 to advance to the final.
2 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey winds up for a pitch during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
3 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey in her motion during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
4 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breeze starting pitcher Jessica Jagar throws during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
5 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breeze starter Jessica Jagar delivers a pitch during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
6 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville baserunner Quinn Graham moves to third during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
7 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Nicevilles Layla Hughes reaches third safely during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
8 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Nicevilles Layla Hughes scores the games first run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
9 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville batter Molly Mayfield watches a high pitch pass during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
10 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville runner Coley Gatwood slides safely into second during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
11 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breeze infielder Ashlynn Stemcosky forces Niceville runner Coley Gatwood at third during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
12 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
The ball gets past Niceville catcher Molly Mayfield during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
13 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breeze baserunner Ashlynn Stemcosky slides safely into home as the Lady Dolphins rally from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville. Niceville would go on to score three more runs to advance to the regional final.
14 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breezes Ashlynn Stemcosky reacts after scoring during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
15 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
The Niceville dugout empties after a home run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
16 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breeze runner Sally Alberson dives safely back to the bag during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
17 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville players greet Sydney Hann at the plate after she smashed a home run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
18 / 20
Hann, Shackelford launch Niceville softball into region finals
Anabelle Shackelford is mobbed by teammates after hitting a home run during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
19 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Gulf Breeze infielder Sally Alberson fields a bouncer during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
20 / 20
Niceville wins 6-3 over Gulf Breeze in Softball Playoff Game
Niceville starting pitcher Chloe Bailey awaits the pitch call during the Niceville Gulf Breeze girls regional semi-final softball game at Niceville.
NICEVILLE — "Like father, like son," that's how Niceville senior Anabelle Shackelford described her relationship with freshman Sydney Hann.
"Literally Bron and Bronny, that's what they call us ," Shackelford expanded, referencing LeBron James and his Laker teammate and son, Bronny.
Cut to the bottom of the third inning of Wednesday's Region 1-5A semifinal against Gulf Breeze, Niceville deadlocked at 3 with Gulf Breeze after a disastrous top half of the frame. And there Shackelford was, rushing out of the dugout to mob home plate, waiting as her "little freshman" rounded the bases after belting a go-ahead oppo-taco deep over the right field wall and into the sea of trucks.
Two batters later, following a single by Valerie Malley, Hann would repay the favor by mobbing her veteran senior following a prodigious two-run blast to right-center field.
Like father, like son. Or vice versa.
Regardless, the duo matched each other with three homers on the season and launched Niceville into a 6-3 Region 1-5A semifinal win over Gulf Breeze and an Elite 8 date Thursday with Chiles, which they beat last year 3-1 in the region semifinals.
"I was really just trying to make sure to stay short and just make contact with the ball and not swing anything out of the zone," Hann said. "Yeah, just like get a base hit for our team."
"Watching her do that, it really put a hype into all of us, I think," Shackelford said. "It really carried us through, that inning especially. I knew I'd follow with something special. You know, after seeing a 14 year old freshman do that, it feels like anybody can do it. But you know, she's so cool."
Cool as a cucumber. Game-winner to boot. Shackelford's blast was insurance.
"We were really trying to punch the outside ball tonight and just getting my hands through the outside ball, I fouled a lot off," Shackelford said. "I watched a lot of balls go. I just was looking for that perfect pitch, and I think I did a really good job at throwing my hands to it and following through, which is what we've been working on."
The three-run third frame gave Niceville its final tally and backed ace Chloe Bailey, who worked around some wildness, overcame a trumultuous top of the third where Gulf Breeze scored three runs with nary a hit and allowed just two hits to improve to 18-6.
"She always does great job out there," Hann said. "Her spin is amazing. She's gotta keep spinning it."
In the frame, Bailey issued a pair of free passes and then uncorked a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. A hard grounder to first that would've been an easy out was thrown home to try to get the run, only it was late to allow the batter to reach on fielder's choice. The next batter resulted in a pop up that barely left the infield, but it resulted into an agressive send from third and a sac fly after the throw one-hopped the catcher. Adding to the frustration, the game was knotted on a bad exchange from catcher to pitcher.
"I just took a deep breath and was like, 'It's okay,' Bailey said. "We're going to score more runs."
And the Eagles did just that.
"We had one of those innings where everything that could've gone wrong did," Niceville skipper Danny Hensley said. "But Chloe held it together. They get three, we come back with three and then Chloe kind of found her rhythm after that."
Now the Eagles, 22-7 and reigning region champs, are set to host a familiar foe in Chiles.
"They definitely have a good team this year," Shackelford said. "They're better than last year, so, I mean, we can't really take anything for granted. We just have to come out here and play our game."
Echoed Hensley: "At least they got to drive here. If we play our game, and we get lathered up, we should be right there with a great chance."
