Charlotte saw its softball season come to an end in the Region 6A-2 quarterfinals Thursday on the road at Wiregrass Ranch, 3-2, in extra innings.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Zoe Troupe drew a four-pitch walk against Charlotte pitcher Dava Hoffer to force home the winning run.
The Bulls’ half of the inning began with a ghost runner on second and Tarpons coach Dave Anthony opting to walk leadoff hitter Juliana Snyder to set up a force. That gambit went awry when a passed ball allowed both runners to move up a base, leading the Tarpons to intentionally walk Sophia Estevez to create a force at any base.
That brought Troupe to the plate.
Hoffer and Wiregrass pitcher Stephanie Daly engaged in a pitcher’s duel for much of the game after each surrendered two early runs. Wiregrass took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Troupe doubled to bring home Daly, then scored on a groundout.
Charlotte got the runs back immediately, striking for two run in the top of the third. Hoffer delivered an RBI single, then her courtesy runner scored on Addi Recker’s base hit.
That would be it for both teams as each pitcher worked in and out of trouble the rest of the way, setting up extra innings. Charlotte got its own ghost runner to third with one out, but couldn’t bring the run home.
Charlotte’s season ends at 17-10. It was the final game for seniors Amber Chumley, Mia Flores, Josalin Abel and Marissa Muzio, as well as Lexi Fitzgerald, who didn’t play Thursday night. A good nucleus will return in 2024-25, including Hoffer and Recker.
Wiregrass Ranch (25-2) advances to face No. 2 seed East Lake in next week’s semifinals. East Lake dispatched Riverdale, 10-0.
TRACK & FIELDRegion 3A-3: At Charlotte High in Punta Gorda, the Charlotte boys and girls teams each placed sixth during Wednesday’s meet.
Aarontae Wesley was the Tarpons’ big winner on the boys side, taking the 100-meter dash title, finishing second in the 200 and anchoring the winning 4x100 relay team. Trenton Curliss took third in javelin.
Leah Hunnius and Angela Sanchez gave the Charlotte girls team a pair of medalists in the pole vault. Sidney Rootz claimed three medals with a third in the javelin, fourth in discus and sixth in shot put. Gianna Hutto also managed a third-place showing in the long jump.
Port Charlotte’s small contingent yielded two individual medalists in addition to a fifth-place showing by the 4x800 girls relay team.
REGION 4A-2: At Plant City on Wednesday, the Venice boys won the region title with a powerhouse showing in track events. The Indians’ 4x400 and 4x800 teams each won their events. Matthew Groves took second in the 400, fourth in the 200 and was part of the winning 4x400 team. In the field, Chase Graziadei took home a win in the pole vault.
North Port’s Damian Howard took second in the 200 and fourth in the 100.
Wednesday’s team by team results:
REGION 3A-3 MEETAt Charlotte High
CHARLOTTE MEDALISTS
Boys
100: 1. Aarontae Wesley, 10.96.
200: 2. Aarontae Wesley, 22.10.
1600: 7. Alex Lincoln-Velez, 4:28.62.
4x100: 1. Williams, Noel, Seaborn, Wesley, 42.10.
4x800: 7. Davis, Mellott, Sare, Lincoln-Velez, 8:31.81.
Triple jump: 6. Trell Polk, 13.16m.
Discus: 8. Nathan Slater-Yon, 40.44m.
Javelin: 3. Trenton Curliss, 49.01m
Girls
400: 6. Rylie Aylesworth, 1:00.0.
1600: 5. Ava Taylor, 5:40.83.
3200: 5. Ava Taylor, 12:01.54.
4x800: 4. Olarte, Harrison, Aylesworth, Taylor, 10:46.22.
Pole vault: 3. Leah Hunnius, 3.15m; 5. Angela Sanchez, 3.00m.
Long jump: 3. Gianna Hutto, 5.53m.
Shot put: 6. Sidney Rootz, 10.82m; 8. Kaicendra Anderson, 10:57m.
Discus: 4. Sidney Rootz, 35.00m.
Javelin: 3. Sidney Rootz, 35.02m.
PORT CHARLOTTE MEDALISTS
Boys
800: 8. Lucas Van Scoy, 1:58.53.
Girls
800: 3. Ashley McKenzie, 2:19.35.
4x800: 5. Machado, Rosado, Wittmann, McKenzie, 10:49.67.
REGION 4A-2 MEET
At Plant City
NORTH PORT MEDALISTS
Boys
100: 4. Damian Howard, 10.65.
200: 2. Damian Howard, 21.55.
800: 8. Matteo Storino, 2:01.08
Girls
800: 3. Malia Hambrick, 2:16.16.
4x800: 6. Smith, Turner, Taylor, Hambrick, 10:12.12.
Javelin: 7. Alivia Tison, 34.17m.
VENICE MEDALISTS
Boys
200: 4. Matthew Groves, 21.73.
400: 2. Matthew Groves, 48.01.
800: 4. Patrik McDonald, 1:58.65; 5. Spencer Palmer, 1:58.69.
3200: 7. Elijah Palmer, 9:45.55.
400 hurdles: 2. Christopher Priede, 54.96.
4x400: 1. Montgomery, Priede, Platt, Groves, 3:19.75.
4x800: 1. E. Palmer, McDonald, Cernansky, S. Palmer, 7:59.90.
Pole vault: 1. Chase Graziadei, 4.20m; 6. Alex Lam, 3.45m.
Girls
800: 4. Atarah Robinson, 2:16.89.
1600: 8. Mackenzie Maclean, 5:30.85.
400 hurdles: 3. Michelle Croney, 1:05.52.
4x800: 8. Maclean, Robinson, Sieve, Sweiderk.
High jump: 8. Jacey McReynolds, 1.47m.
Long jump: 5. Paige Evans, 5.35m.
Discus: 2. Kyla Freddolino, 35.84m.
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