North Bay Haven Softball Team Makes History

North Bay Haven Softball Team Makes History

North Bay Haven’s softball team made history on Tuesday by advancing to the Class 2A state Final Four for the first time in program history. The team secured this milestone by defeating Baldwin 6-3.

Key Achievements

  • Significant Win: This victory marks a major achievement for North Bay Haven, which has been striving for this moment all season.
  • Strong Performances: The team’s success can be attributed to strong pitching and hitting throughout the tournament.

Player Highlights

  • Addison Mallon: Freshman pitcher Addison Mallon played a crucial role in the win, earning her 22nd victory of the season by pitching a complete game despite giving up seven walks. Her performance was particularly impressive as she had already pitched eight innings against Arnold earlier that day.

    "I’m just trying to stay focused and do my job," Mallon said after the game, showcasing her determination and confidence against Baldwin’s lineup.

Upcoming Matchup

The North Bay Haven team will face one of three teams—Calvary Christian, Westminster Christian, or Trinity Catholic—on May 20 in the state semifinal. The outcome of this matchup will determine their path forward in the tournament.

Regional Final Recap

In other regional final action on Tuesday night, Arnold saw its season come to an end with a loss to Fort Walton Beach, 4-3, in extra innings during their Class 4A regional final. Despite finishing with a record of 19-9, the Panthers were unable to secure another victory that day.

Reflections from Arnold

While North Bay Haven is moving forward, Arnold is reflecting on what could have been if they had won their last two games against Arnold and Fort Walton Beach.

"We’re proud of our girls for making it as far as they did," said Arnold coach Mike Carter after the loss. "It was tough losing those two games because we felt like we should have won them both."

Despite not advancing further into postseason play, the Panthers’ strong regular-season performance earned them an automatic berth into next year’s district tournament. Coach Carter expressed optimism about next year’s prospects, stating,

"We’ve got some good young players coming up who are going to be able to help us out next year."

The loss marks the end of an incredible journey for these young athletes who gave their all throughout each game. Congratulations to both teams on their hard-fought victories and heartbreaking losses!

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