Nine area teams take aim at softball regional tournaments

Recover and reload.

Softball teams at Arnold, Rutherford and Mosley suffered disappointing losses in district tournament title games last week, but the opportunity remains for each of those programs to make a run for a berth in the state tournament. Six other area schools — Sneads, Liberty County, Port St. Joe, Marianna, Holmes County and Malone — also face regional quarterfinal matchups this week.

Arnold had just one hit in a 1-0 loss against Marianna in the District 1-3A championship. The Marlins left a runner stranded at third base in the seventh inning of that defeat, which forced them to travel to Tallahassee to play Florida High Tuesday at 7 p.m. Conversely, Marianna was awarded a first-round game at home against District 2-3A runner-up Madison County Tuesday.

Delaney Dempsey tripled for Arnold to lead off the seventh against Marianna, but the Marlins couldn’t drive her in with the tying run. Arnold coach Rick Green knows the Marlins (21-7) can’t endure another silent game with their bats if they expect to continue their season.

“Our kids have hit all year,” Green said. “I don’t even have to tell ’em. They’ll tell you, ‘Coach, we just didn’t hit it.’ You have to tip your hat to a kid who pitches like that.”

The Marlins have advanced this far just once before (two years ago), and Green said the difference between then and now is obvious.

“Two years ago we were tickled to death to get there,” he said. “This year we want to win it.”

Mosley (12-13) travels to Navarre Tuesday to face the District 1-5A champion Raiders. After getting blanked 10-0 in five innings against Niceville in the District 2-5A title game, Mosley faces another tough challenge against Navarre pitcher Kinsley Mason. The Raiders’ top hurler carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Milton in the district championship.

The other area team playing Tuesday is Malone, which finished second in the District 2-1A tournament. The Tigers play at Laurel Hill.

Rutherford (12-11) couldn’t deter Wakulla from rallying for an 8-7 win in the District 2-4A championship last week, so the Rams must travel to District 1-4A champion Gulf Breeze on Wednesday.

Holmes County also plays Wednesday. The Blue Devils captured the District 2-2A title and will host Jay, the runner-up in District 1-2A. Also in 2A on Wednesday, Sneads and Port St. Joe travel to Bratt Northview and Mayo Lafayette, respectively, and District 3-2A champion Liberty County hosts Tallahassee North Florida Christian.

The following is the regional quarterfinal schedules for area teams. Note that all games begin at 7 p.m. local time.

• Region 1-5A: Mosley at Navarre, Tuesday
• Region 1-4A: Rutherford at Gulf Breeze, Wednesday
• Region 1-3A: Madison County at Marianna, Tuesday; Arnold at Florida High, Tuesday
• Region 1-2A: Sneads at Bratt Northview; Jay at Holmes County; Tallahassee North Florida Christian at Liberty County; Port St. Joe at Mayo Lafayette, Wednesday.
• Region 1-1A: Malone at Laurel Hill, Tuesday