No. 1 Lake Brantley marches on, shuts out Lake Mary, 3-0, for 7A-3 softball title

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The Lake Brantley Patriots, perhaps still remembering last year’s stinging state title game defeat, are on the march again in 2023.

Getting a monster two-run home run from Auriana Turner in the fifth inning and a superb pitching performance from Gabriella Mike, Lake Brantley pulled past Lake Mary, 3-0, to win the Class 7A, District 3 softball championship on Thursday night. The Patriots, ranked No. 1 in all classes in the FHSAA Power Rankings, led just 1-0 before Turner crushed a shot to centerfield.

With its fifth consecutive victory, Lake Brantley (21-3) won its third consecutive district championship and clinched homefield advantage for the regional playoffs, which start Thursday, May 11.

“First, hat’s off to Lake Mary,” said Lake Brantley coach Jacob Stanley. “They’re well-coached and they played hard. I thought our girls played very well.

“Gabriella Mike was about as dominant as I’ve ever seen in the circle and our defense fed off of her,” Stanley said. “But two hits and nine strikeouts through seven innings when we needed it most was huge.”

Lake Brantley gave Mike, a Duke commit, some early support when Kiara Beltre and Cate Conway led off the game with back-to-back doubles, with Beltre scoring for a 1-0 lead.

“That set the tempo,” Stanley said.

The Patriots chased starter Avery Curtis in the third inning, but could not add to their run total until the fifth inning. Lake Mary (12-13) ended up using three pitchers.

Turner, only a freshman, went 3-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI. Beltre and Conway each went 2-for-4.

“It was a good team win,” said Lake Brantley catcher Kiley Strott, a UCF commit. “We are all playing very well right now.”

Now, it’s on to the regional playoffs for the Patriots. “We’re looking forward to getting into regional play next week,” Stanley said. “We’ve battled some great teams all year long. It’s nice to get rewarded with homefield advantage in the regional tournament.

“The girls will enjoy this (win),” Stanley said, “they’ve earned that. But we will get right back to work for whomever comes next!”