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Softball: One bad inning dashes Alonso's state hopes

 
Published May 11, 2018

ORLANDO — Senior Jodi Handler had all the right stuff for Alonso entering the bottom of the sixth inning against Timber Creek on Friday night.

The Georgia Southern signee had allowed just one run on three hits, and struck out 11 through five innings in guiding the Ravens to a 2-1 lead in the Class 9A region final at MacFawn Field. Alonso was just six outs from making it back to the state title game for the second time in three years.

Then the wheels fell off as Timber Creek's Alyssa Velez smashed a two-run, line-drive home run, and the Wolves hung on for a 3-2 win.

"Shocking," said Alonso coach Robin Kopp. "It was a good game. (Timber Creek) came out to play. They hit the ball."

In advancing to the state semifinals for the first time since 2013, the Wolves (24-5) finally got hot against Handler in the sixth. After Brooke McCann led off with a single, Velez ripped her two-run home run to put Timber Creek in front 3-2.

Timber Creek led 1-0 after four innings, then gave up runs in the top of the fifth and sixth to fall behind 2-1. Alonso strung together consecutive infield singles to tie the score at 1 in the fifth.

In the sixth, Veronica Diaz crushed a solo home run to push Alonso out front for the first time, 2-1. Then Velez stepped up.

"I didn't think it would go out," said an ecstatic Velez, a senior catcher who has signed to play for Flagler College. "I was just hoping to get a double."

Velez's hit overshadowed a spectacular pitching performance from Handler, who scattered seven hits and struck out 12. McCann and Brynn High each went 2-for-3 to lead the Wolves.

Caila Weisman and Veronica Diaz each went 2-for-3 for Alonso (23-7).