Pace softball advances to fourth straight state title game
Pace softball, led by ace Hannah DeMarcus, defeated Parrish Community 2-1 to reach their fourth straight 6A state championship.
Seventy-six days ago, Pace softball lost to Parrish Community 12-1 at a tournament in Panama City. But junior ace Hannah DeMarcus didn't pitch that day. She previously stymied the Bulls in the 2025 6A state semifinal , allowing just one hit and striking out 13 in a 2-0 win.
One year later as the two team met again in the same game at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, DeMarcus made the difference again. The Auburn commit allowed one run on three hits and struck out 10 in a 2-1 win to send the Patriots to their fourth straight 6A state championship game. Pace will play the winner of Doral Academy/Bartow in the 6A state championship at 3 p.
m. CT on May 23. DeMarcus got the best of Parrish in another pitchers duel for the Patriots at the state championships.
Parrish Community junior Emmaline Van Beck, a Barry commit, also had a strong day in the circle, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out nine. The Bulls (18-6-1) lone run came in the top of the second when Alysa Jones crushed a 2-1 pitch well over the right field fence. Parrish's best chance after that came in the top of the fourth, when they looked to have runners with first and third with two outs but Bulls courtesy runner Ansley McCoy was called out on the base paths.