- April 26, 2024
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It’s amazing how much difference four years makes.
It wasn’t long ago that Matanzas wasn’t even a school. Even more recent than Matanzas’ opening is the establishment of the softball program. Not long ago, the Lady Pirates softball team was the game that opponents had circled on the schedule because it likely meant an easy win.
Then the crop of freshmen led by coach Sara Novak became sophomores. The record improved. With more training and practice — and belief — Matanzas had its best season in school history last season, making it to the district championship and advancing to the regional quarterfinals. Both of those were firsts for the Lady Pirates.
Heading into this season, expectations — at least among the team — were fairly high. Although Ponte Vedra, the powerhouse about 1.5 hours to Matanzas’ north, remained in the district, the goal was still to contend for a district title and state playoff berth for a second straight season.
The Lady Pirates did just that, knocking off Pedro Menendez in the District 4-5A semifinals and facing Ponte Vedra in the championship game. For the second consecutive year, the Lady Sharks got the best of the Lady Pirates, winning another district championship.
Matanzas still advanced to the state playoffs, though.
In search of the first playoff win in school history, however, Matanzas lost to Baker County, 8-3.
Novak will lose seven seniors from this year’s team. Practically all of the seniors played four years for Novak, something that doesn’t happen very often in high school sports. Although there’s always next season, Novak knows she will be losing a group of players that played their hearts out for the black and blue.
“I’m hurting right now because we were so close to going to the next step,” Novak said Thursday. “I’m going to miss these seven seniors.”
Matanzas led Baker County, 3-2, with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Lady Wildcats rallied for six runs to win.
“It was not the outcome we wanted, but I can’t say the girls didn’t come out today to win,” Novak added. “Overall, it was a great season, and I am very grateful for going this far in our season. My girls definitely went into this game with the will to win.”
Take a bow, Marisa Magnuson, Christina Reynolds, Cheyenna Espinoza, Amanda Morea, Gabrielle Prickett, Amber Johnson and Noelle Ecker. You have successfully put Matanzas softball on the map.
