PLANTATION — When it comes to high school softball in Florida, the American Heritage (Plantation) program is a heavyweight. The Patriots have won eight state championships, third most in the state.

On May 7, Okeechobee, a young team with several Seminole Tribe of Florida tribal members, never flinched in a classic battle for seven innings against powerful American Heritage. The Brahmans, seeded No. 8 in the regional, entered the game as big underdogs with a 9-14 record going up against No. 1 American Heritage with a 20-2 record.

Okeechobee used nearly flawless defense and a strong pitching performance from Lilly Larson to throw a major scare into American Heritage. Okeechobee was four outs away from pulling off a shocking upset, but with one swing the Patriots managed to escape with a 4-2 win in a FHSAA Class 4A regional quarterfinal in Plantation.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, American Heritage had runners at first and second when freshman Mia West belted a three-run home run that landed on the roof of a school bus beyond the fence in centerfield. The late-inning rally kept Heritage’s season alive. Meanwhile, the experience of playing in a hard-fought regional playoff game against one of the state’s top teams should benefit Okeechobee in the coming seasons.

“They had an up-and-down season,” said Okeechobee coach and tribal member Mary Huff. “They’re young, inexperienced. Everyone counted them out, but they stayed together, and they fought and worked hard; it definitely showed. [American Heritage] beat us tonight; we didn’t give away outs, we didn’t have a bunch of errors. It was a really good game.”

Okeechobee’s sub .500 record was an indication of its roller coaster season, but playoff wins against Jensen Beach and Garcia earned the Brahmans a district championship, a spot in regionals and an abundance of confidence. The loss to American Heritage earned them plenty of respect from a two-time NCAA champion in the other dugout.

“They literally gave us one of the best games we’ve played this year,” said American Heritage coach Samantha Banister, who won NCAA titles as a player at the University of Arizona in 2006 and 2007. “I was more than impressed with that pitcher, and I made sure to tell her after the game. Their defense was awesome; their offense stayed up the whole time.”

As the innings passed, Okeechobee, which committed just one error, maintained a slim lead. American Heritage was in a position – playing from behind – that it’s not accustomed to.

“They had me thinking for the first time this year that ‘wow, we’re going to lose’,” Banister said.

Okeechobee succeeded in not being overwhelmed by its opponent’s history, including the bevy of state championship banners on the outfield fence and walls on a nearby school building.

“We weren’t fazed at all. I told the girls that you’re the eighth seed, you’re playing the one seed. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” Huff said.

Larson appeared cool and calm as she limited American Heritage to three hits and three walks while fanning two.

“She did a good job mixing in her fastball and changeup. She kept us off balance until the sixth inning. She was impressive,” Banister said.

Okeechobee’s defense looked sharp all game and made all the right plays and decisions. Catcher Melaine Bonilla threw out a runner at second base on a steal attempt in the second. In the fifth, Audra Friend fielded a sharp grounder at third, looked back a runner at second and threw to first baseman Joleyne Nunez for an out. Shortstop Janessa Arana had a busy game and successfully fielded a handful of grounders for outs.

The outfield caught everything that came its way. Centerfielder Tehya Nunez, rightfielder Dyani Kayda and left-fielder Hayden Slovenski each made two catches.

At the plate, Tehya Nunez set the early tone that Okeechobee wasn’t going to go away easily. She sparked the team in the first inning with a leadoff single on a solid hit up the middle.

After a walk to Arana and a sacrifice bunt by Larson, Nunez scored the game’s first run when Bonilla singled up the middle, which led to an early change in pitchers by American Heritage.

Okeechobee made it 2-0 in the second.

Hayley Pendry led off with a single and Kayda followed with a walk. Kiera Snell advanced the runners on a hard hit ground out to the pitcher. A bunt single by Nunez loaded the bases and set the stage for an RBI single from Arana.

American Heritage closed the gap in the bottom of the second on an RBI bunt, but Larson and the Brahmans’ defense kept the Patriots’ offense quiet until the rally in the sixth. American Heritage went on to reach the state championship game, where the Patriots lost, 7-6, to Fort Walton Beach.

The good news for Okeechobee – even though its season ended – is that all but one player can return next year. The tribe’s Adeline Garcia, who didn’t play this season as she recovered from an ACL injury, is the team’s only senior. The roster will likely have a significant presence of tribal members on it again in 2026 with Bonilla, Kayda, Snell, Alyssa Madrigal, Tehya Nunez, Joleyne Nunez and Daliyah Nunez.

Huff received help this season from Danny Bonilla, who filled in as head coach starting in April after Huff had a baby.

“Danny has done an amazing job with them and worked them hard and kept everything –the standards and expectations – going. The girls really responded well,” Huff said.

In its district championship game, Okeechobee defeated Garcia High School, of Lake Worth, 9-3, on May 1. Friend was the star of the game by going 4-for-4 with three RBIs. Madrigal, Bonilla, Pendry and Larson each had two hits.

“We got a taste of postseason and what it’s like to win a district title,” Huff said.