Lady Pirates win district crown

The Braden River High softball team captured its first district championship in three years with a 5-4 extra inning victory over Sarasota in the Class 7A-District 11 championship April 20.

Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, senior Elena Lopez notched a single to drive in the game-winning run for the top-seeded Lady Pirates.

With the win, Braden River will play host the District 12 runner-up in a regional quarterfinal April 25.

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Lady Pirates tied the game when Lopez hit a RBI double. Braden River took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior catcher Ashley Allard hit her first career home run over the center field wall.

Sarasota responding scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead.

Braden River tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Allard hit a two-run double.