Box Score By
Monte Perez
The University of Fort Lauderdale Eagles won their second straight South Regional Championship after defeating Paine College, 8-7 on Saturday Afternoon.
It what was dubbed as "
one of the craziest softball games ever played". Both teams battled to the end.Â
The Eagles secured their bid to the NCCAA Championships with the win, going 3-0 in the tournament.
The National Championship for softball starts May 19th in Dallas,Texas.
Paine took an early, 2-0 lead in the top of the 2nd but the Eagles came roaring back, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th.
The Lady Lions took the lead by scoring 2 runs in the top of the 7th. That is when Head Coach,
Billy Glessner took over the game.
With one out,
Alyssa Dragovich hit a hard ground ball and Paine threw the ball to second. The Umpire ruled that the lead runner (
Alexia Geary) was out.
Coach Glessner argued that the Paine defender was off the bag and the umpires agreed.Â
Cheyenne Southers came up and hit a double into the gap. Geary scored and Dragovich advanced to third base. The throw from the outfielder went over the 3rd basemen's head and Coach Glessner argued that the ball hit the
dugout brick and both, the runner at 2nd and runner at 3rd should advance.
The Paine head coach argued vehemently but to no avail. The Umpires agreed with Billy again.
Southers was awarded 3rd base and Dragovich walked home to tie the game at 7.
Neomi Thomas was called to pinch hit and she responded in championship form.
She "roped" a single down the 3rd base line and Southers scored the game winning run which gave the Eagles their 2nd straight South Regional Championship.
The players did their job but make no mistake about it, Coach Glessner's managerial skills, propelled them to the South Regional Title.
Congrats to Coach Billy and the entire UFTL Softball Team. This game and Championship will be remembered for a lifetime.
Attached you will find the YouTube link of the Championship Game below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/oVHkhqZ3pIQ?si=WqyuvSEuj6ikhy0t
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