By Marshall Tempest
Reporter
The Apopka softball team snapped its first losing streak on Friday, March 28, when it defeated the Windermere Wolverines 5-4 with a walk-off win in the first game at the Blue Darters’ new home field. The Blue Darters followed that up this week with a huge 10-2 win over Dr. Phillips and a close 7-5 loss to Horizon.
As of Thursday, April 3, the team is 10-4, including 3-1 in district, and ranked 94th in the state, according to MaxPreps. The Blue Darters sit second in 7A District 3 behind Lake Brantley and in front of Seminole (Sanford), Ocoee and Lake Mary.
Apopka vs. Windermere
“We challenge our players to put a product and team on the field that matches the quality of the facility,” head coach Mike MacWithey said after the win. “We’ve done our part (in building the complex); you need to do your part on the field. It’s your responsibility to do that part.”
In the 2024 season, the Wolverines made it to the Final Four of the FHSAA Class 7A Softball State Championships and have been a regular playoff contender over the years. The Blue Darters lost both matchups (5-4, 2-1) against the Class 7A, Region 2 champions and state semifinalist in the 2024 season.
After taking two of their three losses this season last week to Lake Brantley (No. 17) and Deltona High School (No. 75), the team needed to reset. They had the perfect opportunity when hosting the first home game in the brand-new softball facility.
When I initially spoke to him after the win, MacWithey was at a loss for words. Bearing through his emotions at the time, he said, “…everybody is a budding rose, and we’re here to have you blossom on this field.”
After the win, the stadium played For King and Country’s “Priceless,” which MacWithey said reflected the program’s foundational beliefs.
“We feel like they (the team) are priceless,” he said. “The victories are priceless.”
Apopka started ahead in this game, with the first run coming from the hands of Bartkin on a ground ball single to left field. Windermere quickly answered in the top of the second with a run of its own.
The third inning was quiet, but the Wolverines brought in three runs in the top of the fourth after loading the bases. Apopka stopped the bleeding quickly and returned with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
Starting to heat back up at the plate, the Blue Darters got two runners on base after Alicia Lopez and Alezia Hatcher secured singles. Windermere brought in a new pitcher as Skyla Durand, one of Apopka’s power hitters, stepped to the plate with one out.
Durand homered on a flyball to center field, sending in three runs to tie up the game 4-4, as the crowd erupted in a deafening cheer.
Both teams held the other scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, and in the top of the seventh, Bartkin was on the mound looking to secure a chance to win the game for her team. After striking out the first batter, Bartkin gave up an infield single, but she got two flyouts to send the game to the bottom of the seventh.
Bartkin reached first on a Windermere fielding error, followed by Riley Ford bunting for a single. After a flyout advanced runners to second and third, Hagan McGatlin came to the plate with one out. During McGatlin’s patient at-bat, Bartkin raced home on a wild pitch to score the winning run.
After the game, Macwithey told me that it all came down to the fundamentals in the bottom of the seventh. He said his three best bunters were coming up to lead off the inning, so he was confident in their ability to execute.
“In reality, we won on a wild pitch,” MacWithey said. “But that wild pitch doesn’t send in runs unless we get the bunt down and advance that runner to second and third.”
Durand and Bartkin led at the plate for the Blue Darters, accounting for all five of the team’s runs. Durand went 1-for-3 at the plate and collected one hit, one run, three RBIs and one home run. Bartkin went 1-for-4 at the plate and collected one hit, run, RBI and stolen base.
After the win, MacWithey highlighted Durand’s ability to be a power hitter, adding another home run to her season total of two.
“That’s what she does,” he said. “She hits bombs. She was doing what she needed to do, and that was hit the ball hard.” ‘
Apopka vs. Dr. Phillips
The Blue Darters started a three-game week with a convincing 10-2 win against Dr. Phillips on Monday night.
Apopka’s runs in the first inning started with a ground ball single from Smith that sent in the first run. The next run came in from a passed ball, followed by the final run of the first, which came in on a ground out from Ava Gonzalez. Apopka was up 3-0 in the bottom of the first.
The first run of the fourth inning came from a wild pitch that sent in Shylah Pino, followed by a groundball single by Bartkin that sent in another run. The last two runs of the fourth inning scored on a fielding error as the Blue Darters stretched their lead to 7-2.
Smith destroyed a ball in the fifth to send it over the fence on a solo home run. The second run came in on a passed ball again. Victoria Shaw sent in the game’s last run on a ground ball fielding error.
Smith, Bartkin and Ford led the way for the offense. Smith went 3-for-4 at the plate and collected three runs, two RBIs, two stolen bases and a home run. Bartkin went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Ford went 1-for-2 and scored three times.
Ava Millspaugh started on the mound for Apopka. She gave up two runs on four hits and one walk. Bartkin came in to relieve and gave up no hits or runs in her three innings of work while striking out four batters.
Apopka vs. Horizon
The Blue Darters lost to the Horizon Hawks in extra innings on Wednesday. Apopka led 4-0 early, the Hawks came back to tie the game and then take the lead in the top of the eighth inning.
Apopka’s first runs came in the bottom of the second inning, when the Blue Darters quickly tallied up three runs. Lopez opened the game with a line-drive single to send in the first run. Then Hatcher sent in a run with a groundout. The third run came in on a solo home run from Durand’s bat.
The Blue Darters kept Horizon without a run in the top of the third and scored another run in the bottom of the third when Pino scored on a passed ball.
Horizon answered with four runs over the next two innings to send the game into the sixth tied 4-4.
Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh innings, pushing the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Horizon scored three runs off two sacrifice bunts and a home run.
Lopez brought in Apopka’s final run of the night on a sacrifice fly, but the next two batters struck out to end the game.
Durand and Lopez led Apopka’s offensive attack, collecting two hits apiece.
Apopka’s pitching and defense were not at their best in the game. Millspaugh started on the mound for Apopka, and she gave up three runs (one earned) in three and 1/3 innings of work. The defense made four errors. Bartkin came on in relief and allowed three earned runs on five hits.
Apopka will travel to Olympia on Friday to close out their matchups this week.
