By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Osceola County’s two hottest softball teams square off for the Orange Belt Conference championship Friday at 7 p.m. at Osceola High’s Coffey Field.

Harmony, 12-3 and ranked No. 8 in Class 4A, visits the defending conference champ Lady Kowboys, 9-2.

The Longhorns have been nearly unstoppable after losing their first two games of the season, ripping off 11 straight wins before being stopped 1-0 in eight innings by Jupiter, No. 3 in Class 6A, at Jupiter’s tournament last weekend.

Harmony beat Palm Beach Central (6-3), Clearwater Countryside (8-6) and No. 1 3A American Heritage (6-4), before falling in the championship game.

The Longhorns can clinch the No. 1 seed at the 4A District 6 tournament by winning at Tavares today at 7 p.m.

“They have been playing very well lately, we’ll have to play exceptionally to beat them,” Osceola George Coffey said.

Osceola, 10-2, has won five in a row, including a 4-1 win against 5A District 5 rival Haines City last Friday. Chantell Crockett had a pair of RBIs to stake OHS to a 2-0 lead. Morgan Crapo and Nicole Osterman each drove in a run when the Kowgirls scored two insurance runs in the sixth inning.

Kenya Pereira earned the win.

Both teams are unbeaten in the OBC.