By: Rolando Rosa - JCFloridan.com
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After a lengthy two-week break, the No.3 state ranked and No.7 nationally ranked Chipola Lady Indians softball is refreshed and ready to compete for a state title.
Chipola (39-10) faces No.8 state ranked St. Johns River (33-20) on Friday May 1 at 11 a.m. in the first round of the FCSAA Tournament from Vero Beach, FL.
The game will be broadcast online at ihigh.com/njcaaregion8. The tournament will have sixteen teams and will be double elimination.
"Everybody's 0-0 right now going into the state tournament," Chipola coach Jimmy Hendrix said on the Chipola pre-game show. "It's two games so if you lose two games you're going home."
If Chipola wins, they would advance to face the winner of Indian River and Hillsborough later that day at 4 p.m. A loss would put Chipola in the 6 p.m. game.
The tournament runs through May 3.
Panhandle Conference champion Chipola split a pair at Tallahassee Community College on April 14 in the last day of the regular season. The Lady Indians defeated the Eagles 8-2 in the first game then lost 2-1 in the second contest.
During the regular season, Chipola scored at least eight runs 22 times. The Lady Indians have four players (Ciara Jones, Courtney Davis, Gabriella Santos, and Brashante Dareus) among the top 20 in batting average in the state.
Jones, a second baseman, led Chipola in batting average (.425), hits (62) and was first in the state in stolen bases (41).
"She's a slapper/bunter. She's not a kid that's going to drive the ball out of the park or hit the fence. But she's a kid that's just going to put it where you're not so she doesn't get out," Hendrix said on the pre-game show. "She's a kid that has some athletic ability. She works hard and everything you get is 100 percent."
Davis, a shortstop, is batting .405 with 49 hits and 35 RBIs. Madison Ragan has team-highs in doubles (12) and RBIs (51).
The pitching has also been a major key to the Lady Indians' success this season.
Pitcher Jessica Elliott is 17-5 with a 0.80 ERA (second in the state), 199 strikeouts (second in the state) and seven shutouts. Ragan has a state-leading 0.69 ERA, along with 50 strikeouts and a pair of shutouts. Ilona Andringa sports a 14-2 record, 1.80 ERA, 85 strikeouts and three shutouts.
St. Johns River State catcher Jennifer Valle leads the Vikings with seven home runs and 36 RBIs. Vikings pitcher Nicole Brock is 16-5 with a 1.33 ERA and 77 strikeouts.
The top two Florida teams from the FCSAA Tournament advance to the NJCAA National Tournament May 13-16 in St. George, Utah.