Lake Wales ended Eau Gallie's season with a 3-0 victory in the Class 4A, Region 2 softball final on May 14, 2026, avenging a 3-1 loss from last year's meeting. The Commodores struggled offensively, managing only two hits and five walks in the shutout defeat, their first of the season.
Eau Gallie head coach Gabe Caride said the team came out flat and failed to execute disciplined at-bats. 'We didn’t string them together,' he said. 'We didn’t have productive at-bats. We weren’t disciplined.' The Commodores were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, including a failed attempt in the first inning when Lake Wales turned a double play after two walks.
Junior Zamirya McBurrows pitched a complete game for Lake Wales, allowing no hits until the fourth inning when Abigail Latulippe singled. McBurrows mixed her pace and rhythm to keep Eau Gallie off balance, according to Caride. 'She had a good change of pace,' he said. 'Tip my hat to the coach and to their team.'
Eau Gallie's only other hit came in the seventh inning when senior Jordan Stout singled to lead off the frame. The Commodores' previous season-low was one run on April 3, but this game marked their first shutout of the year. Caride also criticized some umpire calls as 'borderline,' saying the team needs to adjust collectively.
Lake Wales advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2021, while Eau Gallie ends its season with a 17-7 record. The Commodores will look to regroup ahead of the postseason, focusing on improving their approach at the plate and adjusting to opposing pitchers' strategies.