OAKLEAF – For the first three innings, Tallahassee Lincoln played toe-to-toe softball with the Oakleaf High Lady Knights, but it was not to be upset night as three errors put runs on the board as the Knights ran away with a 6-1 win in their region 1-8A quarterfinal match Wed., May 8 at Oakleaf High School.

“If we can get some momentum and put runs on the board early, it is very difficult to come back on us” said Oakleaf head coach Christina Thompson, who has a state title and state runnerup (by a tricky 1-0 loss) on her resume for the past two seasons. “We’ll take this one run at a time. Every inning is a reset so I’m always amped up.”

Oakleaf (24-4) advances to the region semifinal with Tallahassee Chiles (21-7) coming to town on Tues., May 14.

The Knight’s defense utilized a planned split between senior pitchers Madi Davis, seven strikeouts, and Cambria Arturo, five strikeouts, with Arturo coming into the game in the top of the sixth inning.

“We have a great pitching staff and that is one of our best strengths at Oakleaf softball,” said Thompson. “It’s nice to split them and save the arms.”

On offense, Jadrianna Serrano got the Knights going, taking advantage of a Trojan error and standing safely on first. She would have courtesy runner Madi McDaniel take her spot and advance all the way to third with a Caitlynne Lamug sacrifice. Katie Kistler followed with a bunt that was again misplayed by Lincoln. The throw to first went off target, scoring McDaniel. Then the hot bat of the night, Jaeda McFarland drove the ball to the fence in center field for an RBI double, 2-0 Knights. Baylee Goddard followed with a grounder that was again mishandled by Lincoln for an RBI single, 3-0 Knights.

The only defensive heat the Knights felt all evening was in the top of the fourth with one out, Davis gave up a single, a walk, struck out a batter looking, then walked again. With the bases loaded and two outs, Davis tossed two balls, then came right back to have the batter watch three strikes pass by her without so much as taking a swipe at any of them. Davis retired the inning without a run scoring. The Knights returned with hot bats and more luck as the Trojans continued to hurt themselves with errors. Aspen Windesheim, Ayianna Ward, and Caitlynne Lamug all crossed the plate to get the score to 6-0. The Trojans would get a single run in the top of the fifth and could do no more as the Knights defense smothered the Trojans, ending their 2019 season.

“Nothing is too small to not worry about,” said Thompson. “I harp on them to never be content”.