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Cougars Make Softball Semis

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - For the second time in school history, Durant High is headed to the state softball semifinals, which will be held next week at Plant City Stadium.

Durant advanced Tuesday by beating West Orange 3-1 in the Class 6A-Region 2 finals.

Durant will take on Palm Beach Gardens (29-4) at 7 p.m. Friday. The other Class 6A semi will be held at noon when Miami Palmetto challenges Jacksonville's Mandarin High.

Last year, Palmetto was the state runner-up, and is the only 6A team making a return trip to Plant City.

Durant (25-5) is the only Hillsborough County team that made it to the state semis. Polk County is sending two squads, George Jenkins and McKeel Academy, to the event and Jacksonville has a school in five of the six classifications.

The state tournament action begins Monday with Class 1A and Class 3A teams competing. At noon, Eagles' View Academy faces Lake Worth Christian, followed by a 3A semifinal between Bishop Snyder and American Heritage. The evening session features McKeel against Trinity Prep in a 3A game at 5 p.m. followed by the 1A match-up between Canterbury and Lake Mary Prep.

The 1A state final is Tuesday at 4 p.m. and the 3A title match-up begins at 7.

Wednesday's schedule has the 5A and 2A squads starting. The 2A afternoon contests pit Jacksonville Providence against Southwest Florida Christian at noon followed by Glades Day and Wewahitchka. Then at 5 p.m., another Jacksonville school, Bartram Trail, takes on Palm Beach Gardens' Dwyer High in 5A, with George Jenkins and Venice meeting at 7.

The 2A game is at 4 p.m. Thursday and the 5A title match is at 7 p.m.

Friday's schedule includes the 6A semis as well as the 4A games, with Baker County challenging Pembroke Pines Charter at 2 p.m. and Naples, which eliminated defending champ Lake Wales Tuesday, playing South Lake at 5 p.m.

The May 10 games wrap up the week with the 4A championship match-up scheduled for 1 p.m. and the 6A title game at 4.

Durant has reached the state semifinals one other time, getting there in 2002 before losing to Countryside. This time around, Durant took care of Countryside in the regional semifinals, winning 4-2 in nine innings April 25.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampatrib.com.

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