Seminole County schools are excelling in regional softball playoffs, with six teams competing for a spot in the state final four. Winter Springs aims to defend its Class 5A state championship as they advance through the quarterfinals.
Key points
Regional softball tournaments are underway.
Six Seminole County schools are competing.
Winter Springs aims to defend its state championship.
State final four starts on May 19.
Camaraderie among players enhances team success.
Mentioned in this story
Boombah-Soldiers Creek ParkLongwood
Winter SpringsLake BrantleyHagertyLake Howell
Regional softball tournaments are in full swing, with region quarterfinals beginning for Classes 3A-1A on Wednesday. Once again, Seminole County is well-represented, with six schools still alive and vying to move on to the state final four at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood starting May 19.
Three Seminole schools — Winter Springs, Hagerty and Geneva — made it to the state semifinals a year ago, and Winter Springs brought home the state championship in Class 5A. This year, Winter Springs, Lake Brantley, Hagerty, Lake Howell, Oviedo and The Masters Academy are all still alive and making a playoff run.
Winter Springs (19-6) is looking for a repeat, and coach Farah Gordon has a lot of experience that returned from last year after losing just one senior, shortstop Alondra Maldonado.
“It’s like deja vu, really, because we play River Ridge next, and if the teams who are expected to win keep winning, we will play the same teams we did last year,” Gordon said.
So what is it that makes these Seminole softball teams so successful? There is more than one answer from the various coaches. Seminole has a variety of experienced coaches at the youth levels, so all of the girls play together on different travel-ball teams and an informal fall-league within the county. That helps each team build an invaluable camaraderie throughout the year.
“A lot of my kids and other kids in the county play together with travel ball, and they know each other and in a way they grew up playing together,” Gordon said. “The travel ball industry in this area is very competitive and good, and you have really good coaches from travel ball to Babe Ruth Leagues investing in the kids, and then the head coaches of the Seminole County high schools are all great coaches.
“They teach the kids great fundamentals and execution and stuff like that.”
First-year Lake Brantley (22-3) coach Eileen Hannigan, who came over after starting the program at Windermere, has seen the Seminole County success and now she is part of it.
“I’ve been here for 10 years and in those 10 years, Lake Brantley has been really strong, Hagerty has been really strong, Winter Springs has been really strong and had kids play at Florida State and Ole Miss and in the SEC, like Alabama … all of those schools have been putting players at the next level,” Hannigan said. “You can’t take away what the youth development is, in terms of the feeder program. …
Q&A
Which Seminole County schools are competing in the softball playoffs?
The schools competing are Winter Springs, Lake Brantley, Hagerty, Lake Howell, Oviedo, and The Masters Academy.
What is the schedule for the state final four in Seminole County softball?
The state final four will take place at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood starting May 19.
How did Winter Springs perform in last year's softball playoffs?
Winter Springs reached the state semifinals last year and won the state championship in Class 5A.
What factors contribute to the success of Seminole County softball teams?
The success is attributed to experienced coaches at youth levels and strong camaraderie built through travel-ball teams and informal leagues.
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“There is something special about being at a high school where you grew up and your grandparents grew up. It’s unique to this area and to the lineage of Seminole County. I’m a benefactor of it right now, and there is so much depth and more coming.”
Hannigan said the fall league is a contributing factor.
“I think fall ball makes a huge difference,” Hannigan said. “I think the teams that are able to take advantage of having more time on a field together only helps to build a program and make it stronger.”
Coach Tom Kreahling says it’s the competition between the Seminole schools that makes each team better.
“It’s been a long time, man, that this county has produced some of the better players, and I think we are kind of a hidden little gem in Florida here with our eight schools and our tiny little district,” Kreahling said. “There were times when Lake Mary ran this district, or even times when Seminole was in the thick of things.
“Having to play each other in the rivalries is what makes high school ball great,” Kreahling continued. “We take for granted that we are playing these same teams, and how good they actually are, and then we get matched up with some of these other areas and we start to find out that if you get out of Seminole County, you got a chance of doing some special things and making a playoff run.”
Winter Springs has the task of trying to repeat as the state champion, and Gordon said it will definitely be difficult to win it again, but her girls have that expectation.
“Yeah, they do, and that kind of makes me nervous a little bit,” Gordon laughed, “but in a way, too, it makes me feel good that it’s their expectation to be there. I feel like we’ve done what we need to do to get there, but it’s hard to do it twice.”
FHSAA Regional Softball
CLASS 7A REGION 1
Thursday
No. 8 Sandalwood (15-10) at No. 1 Lake Brantley (22-3), 7 p.m.
