For the second consecutive year, Niceville softball is headed to the state championship game.
- Chloe Bailey delivered another dominant performance on the mound, and the Lady Eagles provided just enough run support to edge Braden River 2-1 in the Class 5A state semifinal Friday morning at Boombah Sports Complex.
All season, the goal was to get back to this stage. Now Niceville will face a familiar opponent — Winter Springs — in Saturday’s title game at noon CT.
The Lady Eagles struck in the second inning. Sydney Hann reached first on a throwing error by Cooper Jones and advanced to second. Valerie Malley followed with a single to move Hann to third, and Annabelle Shackelford drove her in with an RBI double to give Niceville a 1-0 lead.
Niceville added another run when Natalie Miller hit into a fielder’s choice that retired Shackelford at third but scored Malley to make it 2-0. Krissa Troutman then grounded into a double play to end the inning, but the damage was done.
From there, it became a pitching duel.
Bailey and Braden River’s Kaydence Evans matched each other nearly pitch for pitch, as hitters on both sides struggled to find gaps. The 2-0 lead held deep into the game.
Braden River, a program that went 4-19 last season and carries only two upperclassmen on its roster, made things interesting in the seventh. Sarai Castro opened the inning with a leadoff double — only the second hit Bailey surrendered all game — and Evans followed with a single to score Castro and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Eva Martinez then popped out in foul territory to Troutman for the first out. Maddie Kasch grounded out while advancing Evans to second, putting the tying run in scoring position with two outs and Cady Jones at the plate.
Bailey got ahead with two strikes, then missed with a ball. Jones fouled one off. Then Bailey delivered, freezing Jones with a called third strike to end the game. Jones argued the call, but the home plate umpire held firm, and Niceville walked off with the victory.
The win sets up a rematch with Winter Springs, which defeated Pembroke Pines Charter 4-0 in the other 5A semifinal. Winter Springs beat Niceville 4-3 in last year’s state championship, and the Lady Eagles will get their shot at redemption Saturday.
A win would bring the area its fifth state title this school year and give Niceville its second state championship in program history — and the second of head coach Danny Hensley’s career.
