By Ryan Butler
It may have been a regular season to forget for the Brandon High School varsity softball team this year but, in a sense, they finished the season on top.
A team with two regular-season wins, the number five-seeded Eagles put together a final victory in the first round of the 7A-8 district tournament which was the most important game of the season. With the thrilling, come-from-behind 2-1 upset win over number four seed Hillsborough, Brandon advanced to the second round of Districts for the first time in three seasons
“In the beginning of the season they’d give up if teams scored runs on them but just to see them come out tonight and [to not] stop fighting, that’s what you want as a coach,” head coach, Elizabeth Holloman said. “This is a huge win for the girls and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Though Brandon lost to top-seeded Plant City the following day, the thrilling win in the first round was an important accomplishment for the team.
“This is something we’ve been working on since the first day of practice and now it’s come together,” Holloman said.
Casey Miller started the game, allowing only one early run. Senior Courtney Feutz finished the game, holding the Terriers scoreless and striking out the final batter to end the game.
It was the third one-run game between Brandon and Hillsborough this year with the Eagles getting an extra-inning win on the road and the Terriers capturing a 7-6 win at Brandon.
The win over the Terriers serves as a momentum booster heading into next season. Despite the loss of four seniors, the Eagles will return the majority of the team next season. Along with Miller, fellow freshman Brianna Litwa, the team’s staring short stop and anchor of the infield returns. She will be joined by all three other infielders and two thirds of the team’s outfield.
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