- March 10, 2026
Matanzas junior Destiny Clanton throws a pitch in the fourth inning against Spruce Creek. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Payton Zuromski throws pitch as a Spruce Creek player runs from second base in the fifth inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas freshman Sophia Staub watches an outside pitch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Payton Zuromski throws a warmup pitch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas players and coach Sabrina Manhart watches as freshman Payton Zuromski throws warmup pitches as she entered the game with one out in the fifth inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
A play in the field in Matanzas High School’s eight-inning softball loss to Spruce Creek on March 9, was an example of what coach Sabrina Manhart is looking for from her team as well as what she never wants to see.
In the top of the seventh inning of the Pirates’ 9-4 home loss, second baseman Destiny Clanton and freshman shortstop Sophia Staub both dived for a popup with the two colliding, Staub catching the ball and Clanton ending up flat on the ground until trainer Michael Doersch helped her up.
“They are both very passionate players and are going to be a good pair in the middle of the infield, and they both want the ball,” Manhart said. “I’m not sure if somebody called it, or maybe they both called it, but they were both going to make sure it didn't hit the ground, and I was impressed at their effort, but a little taken aback by the fact that they took each other out, almost.”
Manhart said Staub did a good job checking on Clanton after the catch. When Manhart got out on the field, she asked Clanton if she was OK, and after she said she was good, Manhart told the infielders there were two outs.
“Destiny said, ‘What? She caught the ball?’ So we all got a good laugh at that,” Manhart said. “That really made that really scary moment for a second, very light-hearted. And [Clanton is] like, ‘I'm ready to play then.’ So that's just a little bit of her personality. She's a fighter for sure.”
Clanton started in the pitching circle for the Pirates (4-3), who took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against the Hawks (4-3). Creek went ahead 3-2 in the top of the sixth against freshman Payton Zuromski. Matanzas tied the score in the bottom of the seventh with two unearned runs. But the Hawks scored six runs in the eighth against Zuromski and Clanton. The Pirates added a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by Camryn Williams, who went 4 for 4 in the game.
“Tonight was an exciting night, because we have such a young team this year and we came out with a new intensity that we've been trying to pull out of them at practice,” Manhart said. “They really shined early in this game. And I'm really proud of the effort that they put forth to push this game into extra Innings.”
Manhart was pleased with the Pirates putting together quality at-bats and playing solid defense for most of the game.
“Our pitching staff just had a hard time going that long into a game, but I was really, really proud of the effort, and I'm excited to see what we have to offer as the future comes, because this season really is a process, and we're not down and out by any means,” Manhart said. “We're really inspired by that fight.”
The Pirates host Flagler Palm Coast on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.
