Gulf Coast defeated North Fort Myers 8-0 in the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals of the FHSAA playoffs on May 12, 2026. The young Gulf Coast team showcased its potential with a strong performance.
Key points
Gulf Coast defeated North Fort Myers 8-0
Game was part of the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals
Match took place on May 12, 2026
Gulf Coast team includes nine freshmen and sophomores
Coach Brian Hodgson leads the team
Mentioned in this story
Brian Hodgson
Gulf CoastNorth Fort MyersFHSAA playoffs
See which SWFL softball teams advanced in the FHSAA playoffs Tuesday
A roundup of Southwest Florida softball playoff games played on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals
Gulf Coast 8, North Fort Myers 0: Brian Hodgson knew coming into this season that his Gulf Coast team had the potential to be special. The young team, which features nine freshmen and sophomores, just had to believe in its ability to perform.
Donât look now, but it appears the Sharks are starting to do just that.
Gulf Coast (19-8) put together its best overall performance of the season, blanking top-seeded North Fort Myers 8-0 at Bobbie Dewey Field to earn its first trip to a regional final since former FGCU softball coach Dave Deiros guided the Sharks there in 2001.
âThatâs awesome; heâs a legend so to be able to follow that name, wow, thatâs pretty cool,â Hodgson said.
Gulf Coast jumped on the Red Knights (22-4) in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs on an RBI double by freshman Keyah Kamara and a groundout by senior catcher Emma Caetano.
âWe told them to put up a crooked number in the first inning,â Hodgson said. âObviously, thatâs a stacked team over there, very well coached, lots of talent. We had to come into their house and make it known that weâre here to play.â
The early scoring burst helped ensure that Kamara didnât need to be perfect on the mound but the freshman phenom delivered a nearly spotless outing anyway. Against a North team averaging more than nine runs per game, she allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out 16 batters.
âI have to remind myself sheâs only 14,â Hodgson said of Kamara. âSheâs still learning these big moments but sheâs learning it quick.â
Kamara, who added three hits and two runs scored, got more than enough support from the rest of the Gulf Coast lineup, which piled up 11 hits, four for extra-bases. Caetano went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI while senior outfielder Nelinka Lambcke had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Sophomore first baseman Kadi Hodgson also went 2-for-3 with a booming RBI double.
If the Sharks can pair that kind of offensive production with Kamaraâs prowess on the mound, Gulf Coast will be a tough out for any Class 5A foe still standing.
âWe knew at the beginning of the season, this was who they were, the team that played tonight,â Hodgson said. âNow that theyâre believing it, itâs just special.â
Q&A
What was the score of the Gulf Coast vs North Fort Myers softball game?
Gulf Coast won the game against North Fort Myers with a score of 8-0.
When did the FHSAA softball playoffs take place?
The FHSAA softball playoffs took place on May 12, 2026.
How many freshmen and sophomores are on the Gulf Coast softball team?
The Gulf Coast softball team features nine freshmen and sophomores.
Who is the coach of the Gulf Coast softball team?
The coach of the Gulf Coast softball team is Brian Hodgson.
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The Sharks will visit No. 2 seed Braden River (22-3) on Thursday with the winner advancing to the Class 5A state semifinals.
â Dan DeLuca
Braden River 4, Fort Myers 3: Freshman Cady Jones' game-winning, two-run double was the exclamation point, making her the hero of the game for Braden River over Fort Myers.
In the end, the second-seeded Pirates came from behind and defeated the No. 6 Green Wave 4-3 in the regional semifinals on Tuesday, May 12. The Pirates will take on No. 5 seed Gulf Coast, who upset No. 1 seed North Fort Myers 8-0.
"This team has no quit," said Braden River head coach Keith Jans, whose team improved to 22-3. "It doesn't matter what the score is and what inning it is, they never give up. This team is amazing and continues to fight for each other. I'm so proud of them right now."
"This was a great team with a great culture." said Fort Myers head coach Dan Mills, who team finished 15-11. "I love this team, and we're sad that we can't spend more time together. It starts with building a culture, making sure to write things in the right mindset and just get back to work. This was a special group, and it's sad that the journey ended today."
For the first four innings, the game was a pitcher's duel between the Pirates' lone senior Kaydence Evans and Green Wave sophomore Lolly Lane. The pitchers combined for six strikeouts (four from Lane) and five hits (four from Fort Myers).
The Green Wave got on the scoreboard first in the fifth inning. After senior Faith Fazzone reached on a fielding error and senior Kate Coakley hit a single, junior Amira Peterson sent a three-run homer to left for her seventh of the season, putting Fort Myers up 3-0.
After being held scoreless in the bottom half of the fifth, Braden River began their rally in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a leadoff walk from junior Leighton Paul and freshman Cooper Jones getting hit by a pitch. After freshman Evelyn Paul reached first on a fielder's choice to move Leighton to third, freshman Sarai Castro reached first on a fielding error, allowing Leighton to score the Pirates' first run. Evans then cut the deficit to 3-2 after hitting an RBI double to bring in Evelyn before freshman Ansley Schneider came in as a courtesy runner.
Following freshman Eva Martinez getting hit by a pitch to load the bases, Mills took out Lane and sent senior Afton Jessogne to the mound. After Jessogne got one out, Cady Jones hit a double to left, bringing in Castro and Schneider to make it 4-3 Braden River.
"I was super pumped and knew my team was there," said Cady Jones of the hit. "I knew my teammates had my back, and I could feel them from the dugout as well as the fans cheering me on. Before I went up to the plate, I said a little prayer for myself and knew I got a good hit. It wasn't a great hit, but it worked, and I thank God that it happened."
Evans got into a brief jam after giving up back-to-back one-out singles at the top of the seventh, but with the defense behind her, Evans got the last two outs to seal the victory for the Pirates.
Evans improved to 15-3 after throwing a complete game, allowing nine hits with two strikeouts. She was also 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.
Coakley led the way in hitting for Fort Myers after going 3-for-4 with a run, while Peterson led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
â Patrick Clines
Class 2A-Region 3 semifinal
Bishop Verot 12, Clearwater Central Catholic 2: If the Bishop Verot Vikings are to head to the Final Four for the first time in a decade, they'll have to slay their biggest dragon.The Vikings rolled past Clearwater Central Catholic Tuesday at the Sam Fleishman Regional Sports Complex, punching Verot's ticket to the regional championship game for the third time in four years. Awaiting the Vikings is the team that knocked them out in both 2023 and 2025, the top-seeded Warriors of Calvary Christian. Calvary walked off Tampa Catholic, 10-9.For a fleeting moment on Tuesday, it looked like a different Clearwater team would end the Vikings' season, as the visiting Marauders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. CCC put the first two runners of the game on base on a walk and a single, with both runners scoring on an ensuing Verot error.But it didn't take long for the Vikings to respond. Verot needed just two hits to plate four runs in the bottom half, taking a lead they would not relinquish. Leadoff hitter Willa Pagnutti scored the opening run, racing home from third after an errant throw back to the pitcher. The Vikings tied the game on an RBI single from freshman Emma Hall, then took the lead on an error off the bat of Josie Bettermann, which saw both Hall and Payton Breadmore come in to score.The Viking scoring continued in the bottom of the second, with the lead widening to 8-2. The loudest hit of the inning was provided by junior Abby Goff, who launched a two-run homer over the centerfield fence at John Clinger Field, a blast that also scored Tianna Wolfson, who led off the inning with a walk. Verot added two more runs later in the inning, thanks to an error off the bat of Lilly Kitto and a wild pitch.Verot put the game away in the fourth inning, scoring four times to enact the run rule. Three of the runs came on RBI singles provided by Josie Bettermann, Willa Pagnutti, and Paige Bettermann, with the fourth coming on a wild pitch.After the shaky first inning, Breadmore was dominant for the Vikings, striking out nine hitters without allowing an earned run. She surrendered just one hit in the final four innings.The Vikings will battle Calvary Christian in the FHSAA Class 2A-3 regional championship game Thursday night in Clearwater. Verot will likely see Calvary's sophomore ace Morgan Spinner in the circle, as Verot looks to win a regional title for the first time since 2016, when the Vikings went on to win their first state championship.
â Ryan Murphy
Class 4A-Region 3 semifinal
Seminole 7, Estero 5: The Warhawks scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a 4-2 deficit. Ava Weinbaum had a double and two RBI for Estero, while Maddy Milette added two hits, including a double, and scored one run for the Wildcats.
Class 1A-Region 3 semifinals
ECS 11, Shorecrest Prep 1: Karsyn Mootz went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and an RBI for the Sentinels. Keaunna Green and Anayeli Guzman combined for six hits and five runs scored for ECS.
The Sentinels will host Northside Christian on Thursday in the Class 1A-Region 3 championship.
Northside Christian 4, SFCA 2: The Mustangs scored three runs in the final two innings to hold off the King's. Jade Dimaria went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI for SFCA.
