Tuesday saw Northview softball clinch back-to-back Final Four appearances, Pace advance to another regional final and our old friend Mother Nature disrupt the rest of the action for local teams.
Here’s a recap of the night’s action
Rural Region 1 Final
No. 1 Northview 6, No. 2 Jay 0
Northview pitcher Mikayla McAnally didn’t know she was throwing a perfect game until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Even after throwing one against Milton earlier this season, she was a bit annoyed when someone told her, breaking the unwritten rule. Even though she didn’t finish off another, McAnally dominated in the circle, allowing a hit and striking out 10 to help the Lady Chiefs (20-5) clinch back-to-back Final Four appearances.
“I was kind of mad that I heard it,” McAnally said. “But it’s fine. We got the job done.”
Northview scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, which was more than enough for McAnally. 12 days after no-hitting Jay (12-13) in the Rural District 1 final on April 30, she allowed one hit while striking out 10 in the Lady Chiefs third win over the Royals this season.
“You’ve got to have a good pitcher to have a good team in softball,” Northview head coach Amy Holland said. “And she has come through in the circle for us. We played some big teams this year. We’ve played some big teams and she’s done pretty well, so very proud of her there.”
Despite taking the field for the first time in a week due to rain, Northview did what Holland loves to see, throwing the first punch. Kylee Langham scored on a Riley Brooks bases-loaded walk to put the Lady Chiefs on the board, then Addysen Bolen followed with a two-run single to center. McAnally followed by helping her own cause with a sacrifice fly.
Though Holland would have liked to see a more consistent offensive performance, Northview added two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Bolen scored on a wild pitch and Presley Davey touched home on a Peyton Womack double.
All to officially clinch the goal the Lady Chiefs have had since last season ended. Northview made its first Final Four appearance in 2025, falling to Trenton 11-1 in the Rural State championship game.
The Lady Chiefs left Boombah Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood that day believing they didn’t play their best softball and may not have been as prepared as they could have for the moment.
They’ll return this year with a more experienced and battled tested squad, playing the third toughest schedule in the Rural classification, with everything built toward another trip in the vans to Longwood.
“We want it more,” Brooks said. “We know that we have something to prove and we want it this year.”
Region 1-6A semifinals
No. 1 Pace 9, No. 4 Crestview 3
The Patriots (24-4) are one win away from a sixth straight Final Four.
Britten Kettler recorded a team-high three hits and drove in a run, while Kylie Reed totaled two hits and an RBI. Gracie Ueberroth and Ashley Pickard both went 2-for-4.
Kamryn Pierce went 1-for-4 with three RBIs, hitting a three-run home run as part of Pace’s seven run bottom of the second inning. Madison McGowan went 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Auburn commit Hannah DeMarcus pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out 14.
The Lady Bulldogs three runs came on Taeia Schriner’s bases-clearing double in the top of the fourth.
Pace will play the winner of Navarre-Tocoi Creek in the Region 1-6A final on Thursday at 7 p.m.
No. 3 Navarre 9, No. 2 Tocoi Creek 1 (SUSPENDED, 4 innings, Fort Family Regional Park)
The Raiders were rolling before the umpires stopped this one in the bottom of the fourth inning. The game will resume Wednesday.
Navarre broke open a game that didn’t start until 8:34 p.m. ET because of bad weather with five runs in the top of the third and three runs in the top of the fourth. Karsyn Riddle is a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Kaleigh Atchley’s allowed an unearned run on two hits and four walks while striking out five.
The winner will advance to the Region 1-6A final, which is currently scheduled for Thursday.
Region 1-5A semifinals
No. 4 Gulf Breeze at No. 1 Niceville, 6 p.m. (POSTPONED)
The two teams will play Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Region 1-3A semifinals
No. 6 West Florida at No. 2 Paxon, 6 p.m. (POSTPONED)
The two teams will play Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Northview, Pace softball teams continue deep playoff runs
