Submitted by Tony Feola

Members of the Naples Braves softball team going on to high school are, from left, Lisa Feola, Katie Hogan, Lauren Tremblay and Andrea Tanguma. Feola, Hogan and Tanguma will play for Lely, while Tremblay will play for Naples.

Submitted by Tony Feola

Marco’s Lisa Feola smiles between Naples Braves games. Marco’s Katie Hogan is far right.

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Marco girls, members of the Naples Braves Junior softball team, felt the sinking feeling disappointment can bring when their team lost in the state semifinals.

The Braves just couldn’t get the hits at the right time and defense let them down in crucial moments of two defeats.

Marco’s Katie Hogan caught all the games, while Lisa Feola pitched parts of every game.

In the opening game the Braves lost 4-2 to perennial favorite Bloomingdale. Feola pitched four innings, giving up two runs, and knocked out a single on offense. Hogan also slapped out a single.

The Braves rebounded with a 14-3 victory. Feola tossed two innings, giving up one earned run and striking out three. Hogan was the hitting star, slamming out three hits, including a double.

In game three, the Braves faced Vierra Suntree, which was on a 29-game win streak. The Braves needed to beat Suntree by at least six runs to advance. The Braves crushed them, 13-1.

Feola pitched the last three innings, not allowing a run. She accounted for seven of the nine outs by strikeouts, while adding a key hit. Hogan threw out a runner trying to steal second. She also knocked out two hits, plating three runs.

The Braves played South Tampa in the semifinals. They wanted to avenge a loss to them in 2007, but some defensive lapses and the lack of key hits spelled defeat, 3-1. The Braves left 11 runners on base.

Feola, Hogan and Andrea Tanguma move on to Lely High School where they will play softball.

Feola has a good chance of becoming the second starting pitcher for the Lely varsity, while Hogan may find a place behind home plate.