While freshman Macy Borgen was walking if off Tuesday against Columbia and sending Fort Walton Beach softball into its first region finals appearance since 2004, sophomore ace Chloe Bailey was making batters miss over in Niceville, tallying 14 strikeouts to lead the Eagles past Chiles.
Two underclassman owning the moment. Two powerhouses looking state title contenders more and more each day.
For the second-seeded Vikings, it was all about rallying back on their home field against the third-seeded visitors. After coming back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to enter the bottom of the seventh frame tied at 3, Anna Beyhl and Merry Miller came through with back-to-back two-out base knocks to put runners on second and third and set the stage for Borgen, who walked it off with a single to shallow center for the 4-3 win over Columbia.
It was Borgen’s second RBI hit of the night to back starter Rilyn Douglas, who struck out four and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits for the win. Reigning 4A Player of the Year Alyx Hall also launched a solo homer, Meredith Miller went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Anna Abernathy and Beyhl each went 2 for 4 and combined to score three runs.
Now the Vikings are set to host fourth-seeded Arnold, which comes to town Thursday looking to avenge a 5-4 extra-inning loss two weeks ago for the district title. Arnold knocked off top-seeded Bay County 2-1 in extras Tuesday night to grant Fort Walton a third straight home game in regionals. A Vikings win would mark the program’s first-ever Final 4 trip.
Over in Niceville, Bailey’s stat-line for the night was the stuff of legends: 7IP, 14Ks, 0ER, 1BB, 2H.
Speaking of underclassmen owning the moment, sophomore Kaylee McKissack delivered a solo pinch-hit homer and sophomore Quinn Graham drove in a run in the win. Krissa Troutman chipped in an RBI and Bailey also helped out her own cause with two hits.
Now the No. 1 Eagles are set to host second-seeded Matanzas, which will enter Thursday night’s away game fresh off a pair of one-run wins in the opening rounds. A win would give the Eagles their first Final 4 trip since 2018, when they lost 4-1 to Pembroke Pines in the state championship.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Region softball: FWB does something it hasn’t done since 2004; Niceville beats Chiles
Reporting by Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
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