The show goes on for the University Christian softball team.
The Christians marched into the Class 2A state championship game, routing Mount Dora Christian 8-3 on Tuesday afternoon in Clermont.
UC (18-2) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back as it coasted into just its second fast-pitch state championship game in program history. The Christians lost 9-1 to Lakeland Christian in 2016 in their lone title game appearance.
The Christians will face either St. Petersburg Canterbury on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. for the title.
Sophia Kardatzke scattered two hits over the distance and struck out 10 for UC.
The Christians jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the sixth to put enough of a buffer between the teams that a comeback wasn’t in the cards. Not against Kardatzke, UC’s overpowering freshman who had a run of five straight no-hitters end in the regional finals.
Mount Dora Christian pushed its three runs across in the bottom of the sixth.
Jaleigha Harris had three hits and Kate Dell Alba had a pair for UC. For Christians coach Keith Stroud, the appearance in the state semis was his eighth across three sports. His UC girls basketball team finished as state runner-up in 2016.