HomeTeam Hot Shots
A spotlight on the Times’ bay area players of the week.
Female Hot Shot: Darby Bernaldo, Bloomingdale
Sport: Softball
Skinny: The senior shortstop had been a solid hitter all season and played some of her best ball at the biggest stage in Vero Beach. Bernaldo tied the Class 8A state semifinal at 1-all with her RBI single in the bottom of the first, and she broke it open with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to cap off a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance in an 11-3 triumph. She followed that by finishing 2-for-3 at the plate and scoring a run in the Bulls’ 3-2 win over Oviedo Hagerty to secure the program’s first state championship since 1993.
Male Hot Shot: Andrew Monahan, East Lake
Sport: Baseball
Skinny: With one swing of the bat, Monahan put the Eagles into Friday night’s Class 7A state semifinal against Kissimmee Osceola. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning against Melbourne in the region final, Monahan hit a grand slam over the leftfield fence to give East Lake a five-run cushion. The Eagles eventually won 7-3. It is the first time East Lake has been to the state tournament since 2002. “He’s been a great player for us all season,” coach Dan Genna said. “But he’s an even greater kid. Just a great attitude and really knows how to play the game.”