Two area softball teams are heading to the regionals as district champions.
Mitchell knocked off East Lake 5-2 to win the Class 6A, District 5 title, while Hudson pounded Zephyrhills 17-8 to claim the Class 4A-9 crown. Both Mustangs and Cobras enter the postseason on three-game winning streaks after midseason slumps.
Mitchell beats rival in Class 6A-5
Mitchell punched back at the right time.
The Mustangs beat East Lake 5-2 on April 29 to win the Class 6A, District 5 championship, capping a three-game stretch against quality competition that also included wins over Steinbrenner and Palm Harbor University.
The title run comes after a stumble down the stretch in which Mitchell (18-9) dropped four of five.
Sophomore pitcher Savannah Toukatly went the distance for the Mustangs, scattering four hits and striking out six. She also went 1 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs at the plate.
Madyson Whitaker added a run-scoring sacrifice fly, and Taylor Tucker drove in a run. Mitchell broke the game open with a two-run third and tacked on two more in the fifth.
Senior Danni Scali led East Lake with two hits and two RBIs. Ali Sheffield doubled. Lucy Mondok took the loss, allowing five runs — two earned — over seven innings.
Mitchell reached the region final last year, ousting East Lake in the region semifinals after losing to the Eagles in the 2024 district tournament.
Hudson rolls in Class 4A-9
Hudson is peaking at the right time.
The Cobras (11-12) pounded out 13 hits in a 17-8 win over Zephyrhills on April 30 to capture the Class 4A-9 tournament championship, their third straight win after a 3-9 stretch midway through the season.
Junior Bella Veraldi went 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs to lead Hudson’s 17-hit, 15-RBI assault. Jenna Spengler added two hits and five RBIs, and Jesse Anderson homered, drove in four and finished 3 for 5. Alivia Evans scored four runs and stole three bases.
Hudson scored in five of seven innings, breaking it open with a five-run fourth and a five-run fifth.
Gracie Gutierrez got the win, allowing two earned runs over five innings.
For Zephyrhills, Briana Vega went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Melanie Moreno added two hits.
The title caps a steady climb for the Cobras, who went a combined 6-31 from 2020 to 2022, then won eight games in each of the next two seasons and nine a year ago.