Softball: Panthers winners of 11-of-13 in home stretch of regular season -- Observer Preps

DR. PHILLIPS The Dr. Phillips softball team entered the final week of the regular season riding high on a stretch that has seen the Panthers win 11 of their past 13 games.

The team will host West Orange at 6 p.m. April 20 in its regular season finale before competing in the FHSAA Class 9A, District 4 Tournament next week at Boone High. There, Dr. Phillips (18-6) will have to first defeat Oak Ridge before likely having to square off against Lake Nona in the district semifinals — with a trip to the district final and a playoff berth on the line.

For now, the Panthers are focused on prolonging the positive momentum of the regular season into the postseason.

“The kids get along well with each other — they’re friends,” head coach Mike Gale said. “Everyone has a job to do and they just go out, have fun and do their job. It’s been leading to success.”

During the stretch, the Panthers have scored an average of 10.3 runs per game while allowing 1.9 runs per game. 

Over the course of the season, Dr. Phillips is allowing just 2.5 runs per game this season and a big part of the reason for that has been sophomore pitcher Raychel Trocki. Trocki has 16 wins on the mound this spring and an ERA of just 1.52 to pair with 118 strikeouts.

Trocki is part of a core of sophomores that dominate the Panthers’ roster and have the future looking bright for the program’s next two seasons. 

And though there is just one senior and one junior on the team, Nini Underwood and Hannah Eden, respectively, have been key for Dr. Phillips’ success at the plate. Underwood, a Lake-Sumter State College signee, leads the team in batting average (.468), home runs (three) and runs scored (33) while Eden has a team-high 25 RBIs.

A sophomore, Kati Kelly has the most hits on the roster at 32.

To beat Lake Nona, which swept the Panthers in the regular season, and to have success in the postseason, Gale says everything is going to have to come together in the next few weeks.

“Our fortunes are going to depend on whether we can play some good solid defense and hit the ball,” Gale said. “It’s going to be a challenge.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].