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Front Row, (L-R) Haley Fleming, Laura Mann, Melinda Villegas, Lisette Lantiqua, Kaylie Wallace, Courtney Ewing, Back Row, (L-R) Brittany Ewing, Kelsey Hensel, Emily Roesch, Brittany Bowles, Lizzy Corrigan, Brittany Human
Manager: Randy Jackson (far right) Coach Renee Goodson (far left), (not pictured coach Denny White)
For the 5th year in a row, the Gators captured the 2008 District 9, 6A title. The championship was sealed with an 8-2 victory over Palm Beach Central on Friday, April 19th.
The following paragraphs contain a brief summary of some of the highlights of the 2008 Lady Gator games.
2/14 @ Palm Beach Central Broncos (Game 1) The first game of the season started off right with leadoff hitter Haley Fleming rocking a stand-up triple over the leftfielder's head. Following a Brittany Ewing walk and a ground out leaving runners at second and third, Kelsey Hensel, last year's team RBI leader drove in the 2008 team's first run of the season with a ground out to second. Brittany scored the team's second run on a pass ball. The Gators scored two more runs in the 4th when freshman catcher Laura Mann followed back to back hits by Emily Roesch and Kelsey Hensel with a 2 RBI line drive to right center. Lizzy Corrigan pitched a very strong 7 innings, limiting the Broncos to 4 hits and not allowing an earned run. She was helped in the field by an outstanding game with the glove at short by Emily Roesch. The final score, Gators 4, Broncos 1...(team record 1-0)
2/16 @ Dwyer Panthers (Game 2) In her first start of the season, Brittany Bowles threw a 4 hit shutout against city rival Dwyer High School. The Gators scored the game's only run in the first inning, when following singles by Emily Roesch and Kelsey Hensel, Roesch scored on a pass ball. The final score, Gators 1, Panthers 0...(team record 2-0)
2/19 @ Cardinal Newman Crusaders (Game 3) The Lady Gators brought out their bats for a Tuesday afternoon game at Cardinal Newman. They erupted for 16 runs on 18 hits in only 5 innings of play. Emily Roesch was 3-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI and freshman Laura Mann was 3-4 with 4 RBI, three of which came on a line drive home run over the right field fence in the top of the fifth inning. Lizzy Corrigan won her second game of the season with a one hit shutout. She carried a no hitter into the final inning of play when a two out single broke up the no-no. The final score, Gators 16, Crusaders 0...(team record 3-0)
2/21 vs Palm Beach Lakes Rams (Game 4) In the first home game of the year, the Gators christened the new Amanda Buckley Memorial Stadium with a 14 to 1 rout of the Rams. Brittany Ewing and Laura Mann each homered for the Gators and Freshman Kaylie Wallace, pitched all 5 innings of the contest, allowing only 2 hits while striking out 13. The final score, Gators 14, Rams 1...(team record 4-0)
2/22 vs West Boca Bulls (Game 5) Brittany Bowles pitched her second shutout in as many games to lead the gators to a 1-0, 11 inning victory over the Bulls. She received help with some strong defensive plays in the field. In the top of the 10th the Bull's leadoff hitter drove a shot to deep right center, Kelsey Hensel relayed the ball to Emily Roesch who threw Brittany Ewing at third to cut down a would be triple. In the same inning with two outs and runners on second and third, Haley Fleming climbed the ladder to make a backhanded grab of a seeing eye liner headed for shallow right center. The Gators finally broke the 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the eleventh when Emily Roesch lead off with a single. Following a Brittany Human sac bunt and a ground out, Laura Mann hit the first pitch, dropping in a two out Texas leaguer between the center and right fielders. the clutch hit increased Mann's RBI total to a team high 8. The final score, Gators 1, Bulls 0...(team record 5-0)
2/23 vs Dwyer Panthers (Game 6) Following a hard fought 11 inning shutout win from the night before the Gators held the Panthers scoreless for 4 innings behind the solid pitching of Lizzy Corrigan, but in the top of the 5th a single to center, error at second, a walk to load the bases and a two out double to the left-centerfield fence by Panther's pitcher Janee Loree put the Gators in at a three run deficit. The top of the sixth brought no relief as a homerun and an infield throwing error resulted in two more Panther runs. The Gators were able to plate one run in the bottom of the seventh on a single by Lisette Lantigua. However, it would not be enough as the Gators finished with thier first loss of the season. The final score, Gators 1, Panthers 6...(team record 5-1)
2/28 vs Jupiter Warriors (Game 7) After four relatively uneventful innings, the Gators broke out and scored 10 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning to defeat the Jupiter Warriors via the 10 run mercy rule. The Gators racked up 9 hits in the innings including two triples (Laura Mann and Kaylie Wallace) and double (Brittany Ewing). Every slot in the lineup scored a run in the inning with the exception of the clean-up position filled by Kelsey Hensel who drove in the final run of the game with a line drive single to center. Brittany Bowles won her third straight game and extended her scoreless inning streak to 23! The final score, Gators 10, Warriors 0...(team record 6-1)
The Gators are playing all their home games for the 2008 season at the new Amanda Buckley Memorial Stadium, just east of the High School on the west side of Plant Drive. The new Amanda Buckley "Field of Dreams" Memorial Stadium is being developed in memory of Amanda J. Buckley through the "Give a Smile to a Child" Foundation, along with the assistance of the City of Palm Beach Gardens and generous donations from both the public and private sectors of our community. The first phase of the three phase development was completed prior to the opening of our 2008 season with the balance of the development planned to occur within the next two years. Upon completion the facility will provide our community with a beautiful state-of-the art fastpitch softball stadium inclusive of permanent chair back grandstand seating, concession stand, bathroom facilities, announcers booth, enclosed seating area, concrete dugouts, home team locker room, manager's office, brick wall backstop with easy view backdrop netting, (2) practice fields, (4) batting cages, (4) pitching stations, 8,000 sq. ft. training multi purpose building, and a memorial garden.
Front Row, (L-R) Courtney Ewing, Brittany Ewing, Mimi Lerner, Caroline Torre, Laura Mendes, Chelsi Meister, Haley Fleming, Lizzy Davis, Back Row, (L-R) Melinda Villegas, Brittany Human, Emily Roesch, Ashley Brochu, Lizzy Corrigan, Brittany Bowles, Lisette Lantiqua, Kelsey Hensel, Amanda Buckley
Manager: Randy Jackson (far right) Coaches (L-R): Renee Goodson, Denny White & Rachael White
The following paragraphs contain a brief summary of some of the highlights of the 2007 Lady Gator games.
5/1 vs Everglades Gators (Regional Finals) The Garden's Gator's season came to a close tonight with a tough loss to the Everglades Gators in the Regional finals at Silver Palms Park in Pembroke Pines. Everglades defeated Gardens 1-0, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the 7th inning to take the victory. Pitchers Lizzy Corrigan and Brittany Bowles held Everglades to only 3 hits and scoreless through 6+ innings. Meanwhile Gardens scattered 5 hits, including two by Laura Mendes, but were unable to plate a run in the loss. The defeat brings a wonderful season to a close in which the Gator's compiled a 24-4 record while cumulatively outscoring their opponents 194-34. Next year's varsity team will return 11 players from the 2007 squad, but the six departing seniors, Caroline Torre, Laura Mendes, Lizzy Davis, Amanda Buckley, Mimi Lerner and Chelsi Meister will be greatly missed.
4/27 vs Cooper City Cowboys (Regional Semifinals) The Gators defeated the Cooper City Cowboys in the Regional quarter final match-up 7-0. Lizzy Corrigan tossed her 10 shutout of the season, capped off by a nice play from right-fielder Brittany Ewing, throwing out a batter at first with, with two outs and a runner on third to end the game. Eight of the nine starters for Gardens had hits including two by Caroline Torre. The victory marks the Gardens High School Softball game to be played at Paul Heller Field, as the remainder of the season will be played on the road and the field will removed to make way for the new school construction.
4/24 vs Santaluces Chiefs (Regional Quarterfinals) The Gators brought out their bats and slugged their way to a Quarter Final victory of the Chiefs in their first Regional tournament game, 13-3. Gardens pounded out 14 hits in the 6 inning run-rule shortened game. Haley Fleming, (3 RBI) and Kelsey Hensel were each 3-4 with two runs scored and Amanda Buckley was 2-4 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Lizzy Corrigan pitched a complete game improving her season record to 14-1.
4/19 vs Jupiter Warriors (District Finals) The Palm Beach Garden's Lady Gators won the District 9, 6A Championship with a 4-3 win over the Jupiter Warriors. Caroline Torre was 4-4 with a triple and 3 RBI and Laura Mendes was 1-2 with two runs and an RBI. Lizzy Corrigan went the distance on the mound striking out 6 on her way to her 13th victory.
4/18 vs Palm Beach Central Broncos (Districts) Following a first round bye, the Gator's faced the Broncos, in their first District game. Lizzy Corrigan threw her 9th shutout of the season and Haley Fleming went 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI, as the Gators defeated the Broncos 4-0 to advance to the District Finals.
4/13 vs Santaluces Chiefs (Game 23) On Senior Night, the Gators hosted the Chiefs in the final game of the regular season. Prior to the game, the team's six seniors, Laura Mendes, Caroline Torre, Lizzy Davis, Amanda Buckley, Mimi Lerner and Chelsi Meister were honored. Accompanied by their families, each senior received gifts and words of praise from their teammates. Following the ceremonies, the Gators defeated Santaluces 2-1. Lizzy Davis scored the Gators first run in the 3rd on a single by Kelsey Hensel and Laura Mendes score an insurance run in the bottom of the 5th on a single to left by Caroline Torre. It proved to be enough as the pitching kept the Chief's at bay allowing only 4 hits in seven innings. Laura Mendes threw 3 shutout innings and Lizzy Corrigan threw the final 4 innings for the win.
4/11 vs Dwyer Panthers (Game 22) In the second meeting between the Palm Beach Post's Number 1 and 2 teams, the Gators again defeated the the Dwyer Panthers. Lizzy Corrigan again held the Panthers scoreless, with the help of some great defense and 3 timely strikeouts. The top defensive plays included a triple play in the top of the second, in which Lizzy Davis snagged a soft liner to third and fired to first to catch the stumbling runner off base. Caroline Torre then alertly, and with hesitation, threw home to Brittany Human for a tag out at the plate of the runner on third that tried to catch the Gators napping. Other top defensive plays included a diving catch down the leftfield line by Haley Fleming, a very nice reaction play on a hard grounder back to the box by Lizzy Corrigan and a clutch come-and-get-it quick release play by Amanda Buckley at second in the final inning to get the Panther's leadoff hitter by a half step. The Gator's lone run was scored in the 5th inning by Haley Fleming on Caroline Torre's hard hit and miss played grounder to third with two outs and the bases loaded.
3/30 at Dwyer Panthers (Game 21) In the most dramatic game of the season, the Gators won a 17 inning battle with the previously undefeated Panthers, 3-0 on a three run homerun by Caroline Torre. Freshman Lizzy Corrigan matched up pitch for pitch with Dwyer Junior Janee Lorie, throwing 189 pitches, 122 for strikes. She recorded 10 strikeouts and extending her scoreless inning streak to 26. At night's end, Caroline Torre was 3 for 8 with a double and an unforgettable homerun to deep right-center that helped bring the contest to a conclusion. Kelsey Hensel made a remarkable, two out, diving catch in left-center to squash Dwyer's hopes in the bottom of the 13th. the Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 17th but a nice double play turned by Amanda Buckley at second concluded the game and preserved the shutout.
3/26 vs Seminole Ridge Hawks (Game 20) In the final conference game of the regular season, the Gators defeated the Hawks 7-0, while racking up 15 hits. Ashley Broshu was 3-3 with a run scored and Laura Mendes was 2-3 with a triple and 3 RBI. Lizzy Corrigan notched her 8 win and her 6th shutout of the year with a 3 hit, 11 strikeout performance.
3/23 & 3/24 @ Gulliver Prep Tournament (Slamfest) (Games 16-19) Game 1: The Gators played the North Broward Prep Eagles in their first of four games at the Slamfest Tournament in Dade County. Laura Mendes and Haley Fleming were each 3-3 with an RBI apiece, as Gardens cursed to an 11-5 victory. Game 2: The Gators dropped a game to Miami Lourdes 8-4. Both Kelsey Hensel and Laura Mendes were 2-4 at the plate. However, after spotting the Bobcats 8 runs in the first two innings, the Gators were unable to mount a comeback. Although the victory eluded the them, due to their runs scored to runs given-up differential, the Gators seeded 1st in their tournament bracket. Game 3: Saturday morning pitted the Gators against their south Dade County 6A rival, Palmetto High. The game was a closely played contest with neither team able to get a timely hit. The Gators had runners on based in every inning but the first, including the bases loaded in the second, but were only able to push across one run. Palmetto took advantage of a miscue and put up a 4 spot in the 5th and held on to win 4-1. Game 4: The Gators met up with Coral Reef High School for their final game of the tournament. Laura Mendes pitched a 3-hit shutout as the Gators defeated Coral Reef 16-0. Bootsie Roesch hit the Gator's first regular season home run of the year, a Grand Slam to deep left. Kelsey Hensel and Ashley Brochu were each 2-2 with a triple and a combined 5 RBI. G 3/19 @ Palm Beach Central Broncos (Game 15) The Gators rematch with the Broncos had a much different outcome than their previous meeting in which Central upset Gardens, as the Gators humbled the Broncos 14-1. Laura Mendes and Caroline Torre each had three hits and multiple runs were driven in by six players, Mendes, Davis, Torre, Hensel, Roesch and Fleming. Brittany Bowles had 9 strikeouts and for the eighth time in nine starts did not allow an earned run.
3/16 vs Park Vista Cobras After playing 2 scoreless innings, the much anticipated game with the Cobras was washed out by rain. A make-up date for the contest has not been announced.
3/14 @ Palm Beach Lakes Rams (Game 14) In the Gator's second meeting with the Rams, Lizzy Corrigan threw another 5-inning, no-hit, 14 strikeout game. The Gators scored 12 runs on 18 hits including triples by Melinda Villegas, Ashley Brochu, Chelsi Meister, Courtney Ewing and Mimi Lerner.
3/7 @ Jupiter Warriors (Game 13) The Gators defeated the Warriors 2-1 in a pitching battle between Brittany Bowles and Heather Simpson. The Gators plated their first run in the top of the 6th on a Brittany Human RBI single to right, scoring Kelsey Hensel from second. Bootsie Roesch scored the second run on a wild pitch. Jupiter scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.
3/6 @ Suncoast Chargers (Game 12) The Gators defeated the Chargers 12-0 behind the fourth shutout pitching performance by Lizzy Corigan and multiple hit games from Melinda Villegas, Mimi Lerner, Ashley Brochu, Brittany Ewing and Courtney Ewing.
3/5 vs Wellington Wolverines (Game 11) In Garden's second meeting with Wellington, and the second match-up between Brittany Bowles and Lindsey Croft, the Gators prevailed with a 4-0 victory. All four runs came in the top of the sixth inning, sparked by a Laura Mendes walk and a Lizzy Davis sacrifice bunt that was miss played into a two base error. Following the intentional walk of Caroline Torre, Kelsey Hensel came up with a big sacrifice fly to center to plate the first run of the game. Two errors later the Gators were sitting on a 4-0 lead, more than enough for Brittany Bowles to close out her 6th victory of the season. Brittany finished the game with 11 strikeouts, while yielding only one walk and one hit.
3/2 vs Palm Beach Central Broncos (Game 10) The Gators took their first defeat of the season, upset at home by the Palm Beach Central Broncos. The Broncos shortstop, Kaitlin Bouschet, hit a two run home run in the top of the 6th to help cap off a 4-0 victory. Brittany Bowles gave up her first earned runs of the season in the top of the 4th, ending her scoreless streak at 36 innings.
2/28 at Seminole Ridge Hawks (Game 9) The Gators took their red hot Miken bats to Seminole Ridge and posted another double digit victory, 15-0. Caroline Torre extended her amazing consecutive hit streak to 13 atbats with another 4-4 evening at the plate. She also scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI. Not to be outdone, the hot hitting Kelsey Hensel extended her consecutive hitting streak to 10 at bats with a 3-3 night at the plate and 3 RBI of her own. Courtney Ewing was 1-1 with a double and 2 runs scored and Lizzy Corrigan threw a no-hit shutout with 7 strikeouts for her 4th win of the season.
2/26 vs Royal Palm Beach Wildcats (Game 8) The Wildcats returned to meet up with the Gators for a second time. The end result was similar, an 11-0 victory for the Lady Gators, as Gardens punded out 16 hits in the 6 inning contest. Caroline Torre and Kelsey Hensel continued their hot hitting, each going 4-4. Caroline had a double and scored three runs and Kelsey had 3 doubles, a triple, and 5 RBI, including a bases clearing 3 run double to deep right center to end the game via the mercy rule. Brittany Bowles once again mastered the mound, shutting out the Wildcats with only one hit.
2/22 vs Royal Palm Beach Wildcats (Game 7) For the second game in row the Gators posted a high scoring first inning, plating 7 runs on 7 hits, including a two out two run triple down the leftfield line by Laura Mendes. Caroline Torre finished the night 3-3 with 4 runs scored and Kelsey Hensel was 3-4 with 2 RBI, to help pace the Gators to a 10-0 win over the Wildcats. The overwhelming offense was matched by the outstanding pitching of Brittany Bowles who threw a one-hit shutout with 8 strikeouts.
2/20 vs Palm Beach Lakes Rams (Game 6) The Gators followed up on their 10 run 7th inning against Santaluces with a 6 run first and 3 run second against the Rams. Lizzy Davis, Haley Fleming and Brittany Ewing combined to go 7 for 7 with 5 runs scored as the Gators cruised to an 11-0 victory. Lizzy Corrigan improved to 3-0 with a perfect game that included 14 of 15 outs recorded via strikeout!
2/16 @ Santaluces Chiefs (Game 5) On an cold windy evening, the Gator's bats got very hot, exploding for 15 runs on 13 hits off of Amber Steinhart and the Santaluces Chiefs. The hitting barrage included a 10 run outburst in the top of the 7th inning in which 14 Gators came to the plate. Laura Mendez lead the inning off with a stand up triple to right and later in the inning ripped an RBI single to center. Lizzy Corrigan pitched her second complete game victory of the week, holding the Chiefs to one run on six hits and recording nine strikeouts.
2/14 vs Cardinal Newman Crusaders ( Game 4) Freshman pitcher Lizzy Corrigan threw a complete game shutout with 9 strikeouts to lead the Gators to a 4-0 win over the Crusaders. Caroline Torre added the offence, going 2-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored. The win extended the Gators regular season record to 4-0 and winning streak to 6 games.
2/12 vs Jupiter Warriors (Game 3) Picking up where they left off from last season, the Gators and Warriors engaged in another close fought pitcher/defensive battle for five innings. However in the bottom of the sixth, the Gator's bats came alive with back to back hits from Laura Mendes and Lizzy Davis (double), followed by a clutch two out RBI single by Kelsey Hensel. The two runs were all Brittany Bowles needed to close out another outstanding performance, an 11 strikeout, one-hit, shutout.
2/9 @ West Boca Bulls (Game 2) In a meeting between the #1 (Gators) and #2 (Bulls) ranked Palm Beach County softball teams by the Palm Beach Post, the Gators held true to form, beating the Bulls 5-2. Brittany Human had an outstanding night at the plate, going 2-2 with a double, triple, walk and RBI Sac Fly to deep center. Kelsey Hensel and Amanda Buckley also provided clutch RBI singles. Brittany Bowles went the distance on the mound for the victory.
2/7 @ Wellington Wolverines (Game 1) In a tightly contested game, the Lady Gators defeated conference rival Wellington behind the solid pitching of Brittany Bowles and a few fortuitous bounces of the ball. The first run was scored by pinch runner Brittany Ewing following wild throw home drawn by her bluffed tag attempt at third. Two insurance runs were plated following back to back hits by Haley Fleming and Laura Mendes and a miss played fly ball to left off the bat of Caroline Torre. The game was the teams first official game of the season.
2/3 vs. Santaluces Chiefs (Pre-Season) In the second game of the tournament, Melinda Villegas hit a first inning grand slam over the left field fence to help lead the Lady Gators to a 4-0 victory over the Chiefs. Haley Fleming was 2-2 with a stolen base and Lizzy Corrigan, Brittany Bowles and Lora Mendes combined on a two-hit shutout.
2/2 vs. Park Vista Cobras (Pre-Season) A Laura Mendes sixth inning RBI triple to deep center, scoring Brittany Erwin, helped pace the Lady Gators to victory in their first of two Gator Classic preseason invitational tournament games. Laura scored the winning run on a past ball. She also plated the Gator's first run of the contest following a leadoff double in the opening inning.
We are currently researching the softball history of the Palm Beach Gardens High School Lady Gators. The following is a brief summary of the information gathered to date relative to previous softball seasons. 2008 Manger: Randy Jackson District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Region Champions 6A State Runner-Up Overall Record: 28-5
2007 Manger: Randy Jackson District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Region Runner-Up Overall Record: 24-4
2006 Manger: Randy Jackson District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Regional Champions 6A State Champions Overall Record: 30-2
2005 Manger: Randy Jackson District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Regional Champions 6A State Champions Overall Record: 27-5
2004 Manger: Randy Jackson District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Region Runner-Up Overall Record: 29-2
2003 Manger: Randy Jackson District 9 - 6A Runner Up Overall Record: 22-5
2002 Manger: Sam Testa District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Regional Champions Overall Record: 20-9
2001 Manger: Sam Testa District 9 - 6A Champions 6A Southeast Regional Champions 6A State Runner-Up Overall Record: 28-6
2000 Manger: Bob Walsh District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1999 Manger: Bob Walsh District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1998 Manger: Bob Walsh District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1997 Manger: District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1996 Manger: District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1995 Manger: District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1994 Manger: District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1993 Manger: District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1992 Manger: District 9 - 5A Champions Overall Record:
1991 Manger: Walter Leonhart District 7 - 4A Champions 4A State Champions Overall Record: 30-2
1990 Manger: Walter Leonhart District 7 - 4A Champions 4A Southeast Regional Champions 4A State Champions Overall Record: 22-4
1989 Manger: District 9 - 4A Champions 4A Southeast Regional Champions 4A State Champions Overall Record: 27-3
1988 Manger: District 9 - 4A Champions 4A Southeast Regional Champions 4A State Champions Overall Record:
1987 Manger: District 9 - 4A Runner-Up Overall Record:
1986 Manger: District 9 - 4A Champions 4A Southeast Regional Champions 4A State Champions Overall Record:
1985 Manger: Overall Record:
1984 Manger: Overall Record:
1983 Manger: Overall Record:
1982 Manger: Overall Record:
1981 Manger: Overall Record:
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