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Softball teams one win away from advancing to state

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 5, 2009

Riverview High softball coach Angela Slater knows it's a tough road to the state tournament.

During her 24 years as coach, she's been to the final four three times. She led Riverview to the Class 4A title in 2000 and the 6A crown two years later. In 2003, Riverview was the 6A state runner-up.

"There's an awful lot of good softball in Florida and an awful lot of good players," she said earlier this season. "It takes a lot of hard work and faith."

Riverview is one of a handful of Bay area teams one win away from the state final four heading into tonight's region championship games.

Riverview upset state-ranked Countryside to advance, led by timely hitting and a strong performance from freshman pitcher Taylor McCoy.

Plant's road to the elite eight has been a memorable one. Last Tuesday, the Panthers defeated the fifth-ranked team in 5A, Palm Harbor, in the quarterfinals, and on Saturday they upset No. 1 Chamberlain.

In her first season as a starting pitcher, Bloomingdale senior Kaylyn Camacho is having a breakout year. She is third in Hillsborough County with 179 strikeouts and will attempt to take the Bulls to their first state tournament since 2004.

St. Pete Catholic ace Chloe Saganowich, who verbally committed to Notre Dame, will try to lead the Barons to their first state tournament.

Cambridge Christian, the last Hillsborough County team to win a state title (2005), plays at Canterbury School, an up-and-coming Pinellas County program that lost in the 1A state semifinals last season.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851.

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