How ECS fought through adversity for state title three-peat chance

This week, the Evangelical Christian School softball team will seek a rare state championship three-peat, but the Sentinels have already overcome plenty just to get the opportunity. ECS earned a fifth consecutive Final Four appearance after defeating Northside Christian 14-4 in the Class 1A-Region 3 title game last week. The Sentinels will face Geneva in a rematch of last year's state championship game on Tuesday, May 19, at 6 p.

m. at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood. "We’re going to go out there, and we know that we’re going to have the bull's-eye on our back, going there to try to win three in a row," head coach Johnny Manetta said.

"But we’re going to take it one game at a time. " Facing one of the hardest schedules in Class 1A, the Sentinels have experienced more adversity than in seasons past. ECS finished the regular season with a 12-8 record — those eight losses were more than the last two seasons combined.

The team had to find answers at two key positions unexpectedly during the season. An injury to senior catcher Taylor Davison required a new player to hold it down behind home plate, and that was sophomore Gracie Gaff. "We kicked around a few things, and ultimately Gracie stepped up," Manetta said.