Inspiration Academy Softball Wins Bartow Home of Champions Tournament 

Inspiration Academy Softball entered the Bartow Home of Champions tournament Friday March 14th with hopes to build some momentum to propel the rest of the season. In high school Florida softball there are 3 big tournaments where the top teams seemingly always come together to compete. The Kissimmee Klassic, the Palm Harbor Lady Canes Spring Tournament, and the Bartow Home of Champions Tournament. Competing well in any of these tournaments proves team worth all across the state. Here's a recap of the weekend! 

On Friday the girls were slotted against Lake Wales (The 2023 4A State Champion) and McKeel Academy. 

Game 1 vs Lake Region 

In a low scoring affair, the only runs that came across were in the 3rd inning by the Lions. Mya Ferrari led off with a single followed by a double by Avery Bouquin to score Mya. Slapper Alexis McInerney forced an error on a bunt that scored Avery. After a sac bunt from Emma Szabo, Amelia Mejias hit a 2 out single to score Alexis. The 3 run 3rd is all they needed as Elle Hildreth dominated in the circle. She throws the complete game shutout in only 84 pitches, she allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8 with a perfect defense behind her.  

Game 2 vs McKeel 

After a game 1 victory versus the former state champion the Lions moved onto a McKeel team that beat them in 2023. The Lions bats started hot by scoring 4 runs in the first and 2 in the second. Singles by Avery Bouquin, Alexis McInerney, and Emma Szabo set the table for a 3 run home run for Elle Hildreth. In the second inning a single by Mya Ferrari and hit by pitch on Alexis, enabled Mya to score on a passed ball and then Alexis to score on an Emma Szabo single. In the circle Emma Szabo scattered 11 hits from McKeel while allowing only 3 runs. She finished her complete game victory in only 85 pitched to move the Lions to 2-0 in the tournament. 

Game 3 vs Lake Region 

4 one seeds face off in the semifinals. Bartow vs Plant City and Lake Region vs Inspiration Academy. Lake Region boast a Home of Champions tournament victory in 2023 while also losing in the championship game in 2024. Lake Regions enters this game 11-1 with their only loss coming against Calvary Christian by 1 run, good enough to be ranked #8 in the state by MaxPreps.  

The game proved to be a total pitching duel as our Middle Tennessee commit, Elle Hildreth, dueled with St. Johns commit, MaKenna Meadows. Hildreth entered the day with a 7-2 record and a 1.4 ERA in 54 innings with 69 strikeouts. Meadows entered the day 8-1 with a 0.3 ERA in 59 innings with 108 strikeouts.  

The first real scoring threat came from Lake Region in the 4th, they had a runner on 3rd base with their 3 and 4 hole hitters and 1 out. Hildreth proceeded to buckle down and strike out the 3 and 4 hitters to keep the score 0-0. In the bottom of the 6th, Avery Bouquin led off with a single to get things started as the second hit of the day for the Lions. Alexis McInerney sac bunted and caused an error by the third baseman. Emma Szabo sac bunted to send Avery to third and Alexis to second with 1 out and Elle Hildreth up. Elle hit a fly ball to center field to score Avery on a sac fly and the Lions went up 1-0. In the top of the 7th the Lake Region girls didn't go down without a fight as they singled and walked with 2 outs to have runners on 2nd and 3rd. Elle send the Lions to the Championship game by causing the weak grounder the Hannah Pope at first base as the Lions won 1-0! Final stat line for Hildreth was a 7 inning shutout allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk and striking out 10!  

Championship Game vs Bartow High 

Bartow High School has won this tournament 3 of the last 4 years and been in the championship game in the last 5 years. They are last year's 6A runner up after a dominate 30-2 record and finishing as #27 in the country. They are well respected as one of the best coached and well put together teams in the state year after year. 

Bartow started the scoring in the top of the first, slapping and stealing their way around the bases forcing a couple Lion errors totaling 3 runs on 4 singles and 3 stolen bases. The Lions answered back swiftly in the top of the second inning. Hannah Pope, Maddie Ferrari, and Mya Ferrari all walked with 1 out the load the bases. After an Avery Bouquin line out, Alexis McInerney delivered with a 2 out bases clearing double over the left fielder to tie the game. Emma Szabo then singled to score Alexis to take the 4-3 lead. Emma Szabo kept Bartow scoreless in the 2nd the 3rd then turned the ball over to Hildreth in the circle in the 4th. In the top of the 5th the Lions earned some insurance after a McInerney Single and a Szabo walk to set up a 2 RBI double by Elle Hildreth to put the score to 6-3. Elle Hildreth continued her dominance by throwing scoreless innings in the 4th 5th 6th and 7th innings to seal the championship!  

The Lion's tournament run make them the first team other than Bartow or Lake Region to win the tournament in the last 5 years, etching their names in the history books.  

Congrats to the girls and all their hard work!  

Elle Hildreth earned tournament MVP! 

Avery Bouquin earned defensive player of the tournament! 

Emma Szabo earned offensive player of the weekend! 

Final Tournament Stat Lines 

Hitting 

Emma Szabo .455 and one walk with 3 RBIs 

Avery Bouquin .417 with 2 doubles 1 RBI 

Alexis McInerney  .385 with a double and 3 RBIs with 5 runs scored 

Mya Ferrari .300 

Elle Hildreth with a double and homer run with 6 RBIs 

Pitching 

Elle Hildreth throws 18 scoreless innings, recording 2 wins and a save. She struck out 21 batters while allowing only 4 hits and 4 walks. Hitters batter .067 against her this weekend.  

Emma Szabo threw 10 innings recording 2 wins while allowing only 5 earned runs.