Coral Springs Charter softball bounces back from an early deficit

Charter falls behind 2-0 in the first, but roars back for a 12-2 five inning romp; Stephaie Brasso homers

CORAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA – In a dominant 12-2 win against Miami SLAM, Coral Springs Charter's junior Stephanie Basso hit a solo home run in the second inning to kick off a six-run surge, Monday. This was Basso's first home run of the season.

Despite falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, Coral Springs Charter picked up the pace. Starting pitcher Sophia Bertorelli walked sophomore Sofia Reyes to start the game, but then struck out the next two batters. Bertorelli then walked senior Mariana Gongora with two on and two out, setting up sophomore Danna Viera's double down the left field line on the chalk to score two runs. This was only the fourth run allowed by Coral Springs Charter all season.

Catcher Stephanie Basso smacked a solo home run in the second inning in Coral Springs Charters' 12-2 win on Monday / Photo by Michael Costeines

Head coach Mark Montimurro admitted that giving the team Friday off may have contributed to the slow start. 

"We are just not the kind of team that can be given a lot of days off, especially defensively," he said. "We are going to have to bring it this weekend. If we get down 2-0 to some of the teams we are playing, there is no coming back."

Before Basso's home run, the Panthers rallied with a clutch 2-run double from Kate Maston. The junior first baseman also brought in a run with an RBI single in the first inning. Freshman Jessica Sacca's bunt single and senior Isabella Bertorelli's infield hit added two more runs. Bertorelli also brought in another run after being tagged out while trying to take second base. Sacca stole four of the Panthers' ten stolen bases on the night.

Coral Springs Charter junior first baseman Kate Mason singled in her team's first run in the first inning and, later, stroked a two-run double / Photo by Michael Costeines

Junior starting pitcher Abril Gomez was replaced in the second inning after allowing three runs in the first inning due to a combination of wild pitches, walks, and hits. After allowing a ground out RBI to Isabella Bertorelli, Gomez retired her final two batters of the inning to get out of the frame.

Sophomore phenom Sophia Bertorelli settled down after allowing her first two runs of the season and struck out two batters in the second inning. She did not allow another hit over four innings while striking out 10 batters. Bertorelli currently boasts an impressive 6-0 record with a 0.38 ERA and 83 strikeouts to 11 walks.

After allowing two runs in the first inning, Coral Springs Charters' Sophia Bertorelli did not allow a hit the rest of the way and struck out 10 batters / Photo by Michael Costeines

In the final fifth inning, eighth-grader Courtney Wahlbrink pitched a hitless frame, including a walk and a strikeout. The Panthers scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Coral Springs Charter has scored 56 runs while only allowing four so far this season. They have a perfect 7-0 record after winning 3-1 against Wellington last Wednesday. The Panthers are set to play against Cypress Bay on Wednesday and then have a big match-up with Doral Academy on Friday.

The Panthers improved to a perfect 7-0 record while Miami SLAM fell to 4-5.

Miami SLAM's Abril Gomez starts her delivery early in Monday's contest against Coral Springs Charter / Photo by Michael Costeines