By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Harmony has reached the Class 4A regional playoffs four consecutive seasons, and the Lady Longhorns are the No. 1 seed at the 4A-6 district tournament beginning Monday at Eustis.

The Lady Longhorns, 16-6, will play the winner of Monday’s 5 p.m. St. Cloud-Celebration game Tuesday at 5 p.m. That winner advances to the championship game Thursday at 7 p.m.

Osceola is the No. 2 seed at the 5A-5 tournament at Lake Wales. The Lady Kowboys, 18-4, meet county rival Liberty Tuesday at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to face the Haines City-Ridge Davenport winner Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The championship game Thursday begins at 7 p.m.

Harmony Coach Ralph King back-loaded the Longhorns schedule to prepare his squad for the district tournament. Over the past two weeks, Harmony has played Melbourne (7-2 win), St. Cloud (6-2 win), Pine Castle Christian (6-5 loss in eight innings) and Cypress Creek (5-2 loss) and finished Friday against East Ridge. All of those teams have winning records and several are expected to go deep into the playoffs.

“We have to prepare for what we’re going to see in the playoffs,” King said.

The Longhorns, led by outfielders/pitchers Breann Vanderzyl and Lauren Harris,  were unbeaten in district play during the regular season.

King said Tavares, host Eustis and rival St. Cloud are the main obstacles next week.

St. Cloud, 12-7, is the No. 4 seed at the district tournament.

“We have to cut down on mistakes, especially the errors,” Coach Mike Gale said. “If we can do that, we’ll have a chance.”

Gale was named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year for Class 4A District 10 recently, and his daughter, pitcher Sam Gale, was named the player of the year.

The Bulldogs have depth on the mound with Gale, one of the school’s all-time strikeout leaders, and Madison Roberts.

“Madison is going to be a good one for us. She’ll be our No. 1 pitcher next year,” Gale said.

Celebration has won six of its last seven games and is 7-13 entering the district tournament. Coach Ed Kuzma said that despite injuries that caused him to bring two JV players to the starting lineup he believes the Storm, which starts several freshmen, can be successful next week.

“St. Cloud has beaten us twice this year, but the second was a little more competitive than the first,” he said. “We have focused on winning this game.”

Freshman pitcher Madison White has stepped up to be a key player for Celebration, Kuzma said.

“As she matures, and she will, she’ll learn that the team makes errors and it’s not her fault,” Kuzma said. “She has stepped up admirably and earned my respect and that of coaches around the league.”

Nicole Osterman’s three-run homer in the second inning highlighted Osceola’s win at St. Cloud. Jessica Callahan had three hits, including a two-run double in the first. Sasha Mendez earned the win.

Osceola has only two regular season losses, both against No. 1 tournament seed Lake Wales. The Kowgirls are in Naples this weekend to prepare for the district tournament.

“We wanted to see some good competition before the district tournament,” Coach George Coffey said. “Everything we’ve done all season is to prepare for this. The girls are prepared, they’re excited about it and ready to go.”

Osceola has two quality starters in Mendez and Kenya Pereira and one of the best-hitting lineups in Central Florida led by Osterman, Alexa Ballard and Carmen Nadal, who all have signed college scholarships.

Coffey was named the FACA District 10 coach of the year in Class 5A Monday and Ballard is the player of the year.

Gateway plays at Palm Bay Bayside Monday during the 6A-6 quarterfinals.

The district tournament champion and runner-up advance to the regional quarterfinals April 28.