After a 15-0 win over Nature Coast Tech the night before, the top-seeded Santa Fe Raiders in Class 3A-Region 2 looked to punch their ticket to the state semifinals. However, the second-seeded Eustis Panthers looked to stop the Raiders from marching on.

Clear skies and a tense crowd descended in Alachua at Loretta Shane Field on Thursday night, but most of the Raiders’ supporters left disappointed.

Santa Fe (24-4), the third-ranked team in Class 3A, dropped the regional final to sixth-ranked Eustis (21-6), 4-1. The visiting Panthers used an error-filled first inning to advance to the state semifinals.

Eustis junior right fielder Dalilah Taylor reached third base on a leadoff throwing error by junior third baseman Callie Blair to put the Panthers in scoring position early. They would capitalize on this error two at-bats later, with an RBI infield single by junior catcher Ella Fleming.

Following the RBI single, the Panthers loaded the bases on another Raider error, as they had trouble fielding in the top of the first inning. Freshman third baseman Andi Perdicaris took a 3-1 pitch and lofted the ball into the outfield, just short of the diving Raiders’ senior left fielder Chloe Cason, to clear the bases and give the Panthers an early 4-0 lead.

Santa Fe coach Gene Findley attributed the first-inning errors to nerves the girls were experiencing.

“My first gut feeling, I’m going to say, is nerves. You know it’s a big stage for some of these (girls) even though they play travel (ball) and they do other stuff, but you have a lot of people sitting here and watching you that you don’t normally see,” Findley said.

The Raiders answered, as junior shortstop Maren Hornsby led off the bottom of the first with a single. Two at-bats later, freshman right fielder Corie Wheeler drove in Hornsby with an RBI double to put the Raiders on the scoreboard.

Santa Fe threatened in the bottom of the third, as three singles loaded the bases, but freshman starting pitcher Rylee Swilley popped out to end the inning.

Despite a threat by the Panthers in the top of the fourth, Wheeler put an end to the inning by throwing out the potential fifth run at home to keep them within three runs.

These were the last offensive threats by either team, as no runs were scored after the first inning. Swilley (12-3) was able to settle in after the first inning and gave the Raiders a chance to stay in the game.

She pitched seven innings, giving up eight hits and four runs (none earned) and striking out three batters. However, Eustis senior pitcher Carson Roden (19-5) shut down the Raiders’ offense that scored 15 runs the previous night.

Roden pitched seven innings and gave up one run on five hits while striking out six batters, leading the Panthers to the state semifinals.

Despite the disappointing exit, Findley was pleased with the season his team put together.

“I think the girls had an incredible season. They worked well, they competed well, they kept their rankings up,” Findley said. “It’s been a great season, as far as I’m concerned.

FHSAA softball state tournament 

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold) 

Thursday, May 14

Class 3A-Region 2 Final

2 Eustis 4, 1 Santa Fe (Alachua) 1

Class 4A-Region 1 Final

1 Columbia (Lake City) 6, 2 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 2

Class 6A-Region 2 Semifinals

1 Winter Springs 5, 2 Gainesville 0