WINTER PARK — It looked as if Bartow softball would cruise to an easy Class 6A regional semifinal win Tuesday at Lake Howell High School.
But some late action led to the ballgame going to extra innings before starting junior pitcher and two-time all-county player Ryleigh Knowlton produced two strikeouts and a popout to end the ballgame at 7-4; Knowlton racked up 12 strikeouts in eight innings. The Bartow faithful erupted in a frenzy as all of Bartow’s team gleefully hugged each other, much like when the team won the state championship two years ago and clinched a berth to state a year ago.