The big-school brackets are bringing big-time heat to Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park, as Classes 6A and 7A hit the stage on Friday with a stacked lineup of powerhouse programs, ace pitchers, and lineups that can turn a game in one swing. From Doral Academy’s video-game numbers to Western’s title defense and Wellington’s all-around steadiness, this Final Four slate is loaded with teams that know how to win—and aren’t afraid to do it in different ways. Whether it’s dominant pitching, explosive offense, or just sheer grit, these eight teams have earned their shot at glory. Now comes the fun part: finishing the job.
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6A FHSAA Softball Final Four Preview: Big Swings, Bigger Arms, and One Juggernaut to Beat
If you’re headed to Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park early on Friday, clear your schedule, because the 6A semifinals are primed to be a double-feature thriller. This bracket has it all: an absolute juggernaut in Doral Academy, two elite two-way stars in Natalie Cable and Emmaline Van Beck, and the kind of pitchers who turn postseason games into personal showcases. Every team has an ace. Every team has pop. And every one of them thinks they can win two more games and leave Longwood with a title.
Game 1: No. 1 Doral Academy vs. No. 4 Bloomingdale: 10 AM
Can Anyone Touch Doral? Bloomingdale’s Going to Try
Let’s be blunt: Doral Academy (29-1) has looked untouchable. They just mercy-ruled South Plantation 15-0 in the regional final. Their offense is a nightmare: Anabela Abdullah is slugging her way through the state (.600, 15 HR, 59 RBI), her freshman sister Zoey is hitting .517, and senior Sarah Breaux has added 12 bombs of her own. But the real cheat code is Megan Villazon, who enters the Final Four with a microscopic 0.48 ERA and 249 strikeouts. Yeah, good luck with that.
Bloomingdale (19-7), though, has some thunder of its own. Senior Natalie Cable is batting .536 with 13 homers and leads the Bulls in the circle with a 1.30 ERA and 184 Ks. She’s a legit two-way threat who can keep the game close and flip it with one swing. Paige Sanchez (.419) and Marley Boucher (11 HR) give the lineup some serious depth, and if Bloomingdale can hang tough early, things could tighten late.
Edge: Doral Academy. Bloomingdale has the pieces to scare them, but Doral’s got enough weapons to survive a scare and bury you the next inning.
Game 2: No. 2 Pace vs. No. 3 Parrish Community: 12 PM
Pitching Duel Incoming: DeMarcus vs. Van Beck
This might be the sneaky-best matchup of the Final Four slate across all classes. Pace (23-3) comes in after a crisp 4-0 regional win over Navarre, and sophomore Hannah DeMarcus is the reason they’re here—and possibly the reason they go home with a trophy. Her 0.30 ERA and 393 strikeouts over 162 innings? Absurd. If she’s locating, it’s lights out. Add in some pop from Gracie Ueberroth (8 HR) and senior leadership from Lana Gonzalas (.420), and Pace has a well-rounded, playoff-ready group.
But Parrish Community (26-3) isn’t just happy to be here. They survived a tight 4-3 battle with Mitchell and are used to close games. Sophomore Alysa “Bam” Jones is the engine, hitting .469 and playing with a motor that doesn’t stop. Cassidy Ott adds some power, and in the circle, Emmaline Van Beck has been rock solid all year with a 1.47 ERA and 153 Ks over 100 innings. She may not have DeMarcus’s eye-popping numbers, but she knows how to win.
Edge: Slight lean to Pace. DeMarcus is just that dominant. But if Parrish can scratch across a couple early and force Pace to play from behind, this could go down to the wire.
Championship Prediction: Doral Academy vs. Pace
Powerhouse vs. Power Pitching—Who Blinks First?
This is the heavyweight matchup the bracket has been teasing all season. On one side, Doral, the offensive juggernaut with three middle-of-the-order mashers and a pitcher who just refuses to give up runs. On the other, Pace, a battle-tested squad with a once-a-generation arm in DeMarcus and a quiet confidence that could make them dangerous.
If this matchup materializes, expect a heavyweight chess match. Doral wants to strike early, rattle DeMarcus, and force Pace into uncomfortable territory. Pace, meanwhile, will look to control the rhythm, play small ball if needed, and let DeMarcus trade zeroes with Villazon. It’s strength on strength—and the margin for error will be razor thin.
Final Score Prediction:
Doral Academy 2, Pace 0
Bottom Line: You can’t fake it in May. Doral has the lineup, the depth, and the firepower to end this thing. But they’ll have to earn it, because DeMarcus and Pace won’t go quietly.
7A FHSAA Softball Final Four Preview: Power Programs, Proven Arms, and a Crown Up for Grabs
Class 7A softball isn’t easing into Friday afternoon, it’s diving headfirst into a bracket full of heavyweights and storylines. You’ve got Wellington, the top seed with an ace who doesn’t flinch. Sarasota, fresh off knocking out a No. 1 and playing like a team with nothing to lose. Hagerty, loaded with senior bats and a chip on their shoulder. And Western, the reigning champs who just keep finding ways to win. There’s no clear favorite here—just four teams good enough to win two games and walk out of Longwood as state champs.
Game 1: No. 1 Wellington vs. No. 4 Sarasota: 2 PM
The Calm, the Chaos, and a Trip to the Final
Wellington (21-4) isn’t flashy; they’re just solid. Top-seeded for a reason, they blanked a strong Jupiter team 4-0 in the regional final and don’t rely on one player to do it all. But if you had to circle one name, it’s senior Tori Payne, who leads the Wolverines both at the plate (.391, 4 HR) and in the circle with a crisp 0.90 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 101.1 innings. Throw in Angelina Baronci’s clutch hitting (20 RBI) and a lineup that wears pitchers down, and you’ve got a team built for postseason ball.
But Sarasota (21-7) has already spoiled one bracket and is hunting another. The Sailors are surging after stunning top-seeded East Ridge in the semis and rolling past Sumner in the regional final. Sommer Spears (.505) is a tough out, Mady Pint brings power with 5 bombs, and Gemma Mulhollen (2.12 ERA) gives them a shot if she can keep the ball in the yard. They’ve shown they can win a slugfest or steal one late, precisely the kind of team you don’t want to face in May.
Edge: Wellington. They’re steadier, deeper, and more composed, but if Sarasota’s bats stay hot, this one could flip quick.
Game 2: No. 2 Hagerty vs. No. 3 Western: 4 PM
Veteran Bats vs. Championship DNA
Hagerty (23-6) is as senior-heavy as it gets—and they’re swinging like a team that knows the clock is ticking. They outlasted Lake Brantley 10-7 in the regional final, and they can score in bunches. Alexandra Beldowicz is hitting a clean .500, Ana Roman has mashed 9 home runs, and there’s depth throughout the lineup. The pitching staff has options: Alexis Williamson has logged the most innings (3.20 ERA), but Ella Verne’s 1.90 ERA and 67 strikeouts in just over 50 innings gives the Huskies flexibility and firepower.
But they’re running into a buzzsaw of experience. Western (20-5-1) is the defending 7A champ and survived a nail-biter against West Broward to get back to Longwood. They’ve been here, done that, and Ali Solo is still doing a little bit of everything, leading the team in home runs (4) and strikeouts (169) with a strong 2.09 ERA. Analie Diaz (.379) and a scrappy, confident lineup make the Wildcats dangerous in close games, especially late.
Edge: Hagerty. But barely. Western’s pedigree can’t be overstated, and if Solo takes over, the repeat dream is alive and well.
Championship Prediction: Wellington vs. Hagerty
Balance vs. Firepower With Everything on the Line
If this final holds, it’s going to be a fascinating clash in styles. Wellington is methodical, pitch-efficient, and thrives on limiting mistakes. Hagerty, meanwhile, is aggressive, veteran-led, and willing to go for the knockout punch early and often. Expect Tori Payne to try and control the tempo, mix speeds, and keep Roman and Beldowicz off balance. On the other side, Hagerty has enough arms to play matchups and enough offense to make one big inning the difference.
The key: composure. Wellington’s even keel has carried them all year, and in a tight title game, that might be the edge.
Final Score Prediction:
Wellington 4, Hagerty 3
Bottom Line: Hagerty has the bats, but Wellington has the makeup. The most balanced team often survives in a bracket where every team can hit, and the pressure is sky-high. Payne and the Wolverines might be the last ones standing.
