By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

It is Osceola’s misfortune this season to be in Region 5A-2, the toughest in Class 5A and perhaps the most competitive in the state.

The Lady Kowboys traveled to Bartow, No. 2 in the Class 5A poll, Friday in the regional semifinal round and saw their season end, 7-0.

The Yellow Jackets, 26-1, are ranked No. 3 among all teams in Florida in the Miracle Sports poll.

Lauren West earned the shutout for the Yellow Jackets, who faced Plant City in the regional finals Tuesday.

Osceola Coach George Coffey said his team, which finished 24-6, generally played well against Bartow, but couldn’t match Bartow’s timely hitting.

“That pitcher (West) was definitely at another level from what we’ve seen, but we only struck out four times and we had seven hits against her. We just couldn’t capitalize,” he said. “With Bartow, you can’t miss a spot. If you miss by an inch, they make you pay.”

Bartow scored four runs in the fourth inning to break open a 1-0 game.

“If you are fortunate enough to get through the region, then the first team you’d see at state probably is East Bay (No. 1 among all Florida schools in the Miracle Sports poll),” Coffey said.

Osceola won the district championship for the first time in over a decade and enjoyed one of its best seasons since reaching the state tournament in 1996.

“We had a great year. I’m very pleased with the effort we had all year,” Coffey said. “If we were in a different region, it might have been a different story, we might have gone on. But, it was a fantastic year.”

Coffey must replace three-quarters of his infield, all scholarship players, in Alexis Ballard, Nicole Osterman and  Carmen Nadal. Also leaving is pitcher Sasha Mendez.

“We are losing some very good seniors and they’ll be hard to replace,” Coffey said. “But, we are getting a lot of good ones back next year and I’m excited about that.”

Underclassmen Jessica Callahan, Kaley Brosious, Chantal Crockett, Kenya Pereira, Morgan Crapo and Aisya Dennis all started this season and return.

Osceola shifts to district 7A-5 next season where its main competition will be Class 6A power East Ridge, which reached the regional finals.