OAKLEAF – Showing off stifling defense against one of the best hitting teams in north Florida, the Oakleaf High softball team let it be known that they plan to go deep in the upcoming district to state playoff runs to defend their Class 8A title.

“We treat every year as a reset,” said Oakleaf coach Christina Thompson. “Regardless of talent or ability, every year is a “coaching year.” We have faced some of the best teams in the state...I do that every year intentionally, so that our girls are battle tested.”

Oakleaf, who last lost a game on March 16 in their own Tournament of Champions semifinal to Lakewood Ranch, a 7-6 nine inning thriller, rattled off 16 straight wins with a notable Kissimmee Klassic title over Bartow, a 9-0 win over Providence and a final 7-1 thrashing of Baker County.

“We aren’t even thinking state at this point, our first goal is winning the district semi finals,” said Thompson. “As far as experience goes they have been thrown into the fire. They have had to battle back from behind, and have had plenty of back and forths against great competition.”

Oakleaf’s season-ending 7-1 trouncing of 5A-Baker County, regional finalists last year and 5A champions in 2015, came with a game opening three run homer by Angela Agurkis that put the Knights in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game.

Baker County did get baserunners to second and third bases in the final three innings, but the Oakleaf defense prevailed with Lambrecht coming up big with four putouts from shortstop.

In the outfield, veteran left fielder Destiny Pacetti stole a long fly ball off the fence for a key out before Lambrecht stifled a steal attempt at second base to end the inning.

A second big hit from Agurkis, a run scoring double in the fourth was the Knights final scoring salvo.

With devastating wins over all district 2-8A foes; to the tune of a 70-12 runs scored versus runs allowed ratio, the Knights defense, led by third baseman Baylee Goddard and second baseman Rebecca Koskey as well as consistent play by shortstop Kaylee Lambrecht, has all but shut down the best bats around.

“We have experienced some hiccups defensively, but we have done our best to rectify those missteps,” said Thompson. “The key to our success is to limit those occurrences, and avoid giving away a big inning.”

On the mound, pitchers Madi Davis, Cambria Arturo and Amelia Stalter hold a 1.114 earned runs average with Davis winning six games and Arturo winning three. The trio has given up just 26 earned runs in a 26 game schedule with 83 strikeouts.

“When you have a strong arsenal of a pitching staff, you are always able to have a fresh arm ready to go,” said Thompson.