LAKELAND — McKeel Academy eighth-grader Makailey Carlson scattered four hits in a 14-0 five-inning shutout over Seffner Christian on Tuesday in the Class 3A region quarterfinals.
The Wildcats struck for 12 runs in the second inning, sending 16 hitters to the plate for eight hits, including doubles by third baseman Amber Butler and first baseman Miranda Green.
Seffner Christian ended the season with a 13-7 record.
“Great team, good coach ...," Seffner coach Jodie Stephens said of McKeel. “They’re just solid."
The Wildcats peppered three Crusaders pitchers for 15 hits, led by Butler and centerfielder Heather Novis with three each.
“Our bats have been hot the past couple of weeks,’’ Krause said. “And the top of the lineup started to hit. They’ve been struggling a little bit."
Butler, batting leadoff, is the Class 3A Player of the Year for this region. She and right fielder Shelby Bridges scored three runs each. Butler had a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Bridges and shortstop Amber Presto, who was 2-for-4, had two RBIs.
After tacking on two runs in the fourth inning, McKeel second baseman Mikayla Barwig made a diving shoelace snag on a weak liner to end the game, which was shortened from seven innings with the 10-run rule.