Upset propels Olympia softball into state playoffs

ORLANDO — In their first two meetings this spring, the Olympia Titans fell to the Apopka Blue Darters by a combined score of 25-3.

One of those losses, a 19-3 blowout at home on April 1, was particularly deflating.

None of that mattered April 14, though, when the two teams took the field in the semifinals of the Class 8A District 3. 

A solo home run by Tate McClellan would prove to be the difference as the Titans — written off by some as the third wheel in a loaded district — upset Apopka, 3-2, punching a ticket into the FHSAA Class 8A State Playoffs.

“We put a complete team effort,” Manny said. “It was Tate’s home run — but it also was the little things we did. We put bunts down, we got base hits when we needed to, we played stellar defense, and Jill (Chabot) pitched a fantastic game.”

The victory manifested two messages that Manny has been working to instill in her players all season: that Apopka and West Orange, the top two seeds in 8A-3, were not unbeatable, and that it’s always hard for a team to beat another team three times in one season.

Although they could have been discouraged by regular-season results against the Blue Darters, it seemed Manny’s players heeded her words when it mattered most.

“People didn’t expect (us to win),” McClellan said. “I think it helped with confidence a lot. It was a great feeling because they beat us really bad the last time.”

The high from that win would prove to last just a few days, though.

Although the Titans put together a complete game against Apopka in the semifinals, the district final against West Orange was another story. The high-powered Warriors raced out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 10-0 victory.

“We get down and are too hard on ourselves sometimes, and we can’t come back from that,” Manny said, reflecting on her team’s inability to rebound after the rough start.

If the Titans (12-6) hope to get another shot at West Orange this spring, they will first have to go on the road to take on the Boone Braves in the regional quarterfinals April 23. Boone dominated Dr. Phillips in its own district championship behind a stellar pitching performance by Chase Cassady. 

Olympia, whose success has often hinged on whether it can get things going on offense, will look to McClellan, among others, to get the bats going against the standout pitcher for the Braves.

“Tate has been our most consistent player,” Manny said. “When we need the clutch hits, she gets them.”

The two teams have met once before this season, in what was Olympia’s first game of the season, a 3-0 victory for Boone Feb. 6.

“We’re a much different team since then,” Manny said. “If we come with that same tenacity we had against Apopka, we have a really good chance of upsetting another team.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].