Special Night: Matanzas softball coach Sabrina Manhart celebrates Senior Night with daughter McKenzie

Pirates defeat Flagler Palm Coast 9-1 and celebrate seniors McKenzie Manhart, Ruby Fogel and Sahara Meyers.

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Matanzas softball coach Sabrina Manhart was able to compartmentalize through the preliminary Senior Night activities. She was able to focus on the game that followed, a 9-1 victory over rival Flagler Palm Coast on Wednesday, March 11, at the Ship.

And she was able to keep her emotions in check after the game as she stood with family to celebrate her daughter McKenzie’s four-year Matanzas softball career during the Pirates’ Senior Night ceremony.

And then Sabrina Manhart saw McKenzie’s friends stream onto the field — former Matanzas softball players who drove over from their colleges at the last minute, Matanzas swim teammates, fellow lifeguards.


I think I really had my game face on. But then to see McKenzie’s friends come out on the field, the tears got to me.
— SABRINA MANHART, Matanzas softball coach and mom of senior

“I think I really had my game face on,” Sabrina Manhart said. “But then to see McKenzie’s friends come out on the field, the tears got to me. So, that's really what got to my heart, to see so many people out here supporting her.”

McKenzie Manhart, Sahara Meyers and Ruby Fogel were honored at the Pirates’ Senior Night. This is Meyers’ first year on the team. Her family moved from Nebraska, and she will be moving back after high school to attend the University of Nebraska.

“She's been a delight to have on the team and a great addition to our outfield,” Sabrina Manhart said.

Fogel, the Pirates’ third baseman, has not yet played this year because of an injury suffered during basketball season.

“Ruby has just been such a great, big part of the program for her three years. And we can't wait till she gets healthy and gets back on the field,” Sabrina Manhart said.

Fogel will play softball next year at Florida Gateway College in Lake City, a junior college program. Her sister, Juliet, now a freshman softball player at St. Johns River State College in Palatka, came back to celebrate with her sister and other former Matanzas teammates.

McKenzie Manhart will play softball at Pensacola State College next year. Being the daughter of a softball coach, the sport has been a big part of her life for as long as she can remember.

“It's not always easy playing for your parent, but it’s been so special,” McKenzie said. “That's our thing to bond over. That's what we do, we go watch softball, we play softball together. I ride to school with her every morning. That's our thing is softball. So it's just been really nice, especially in my high school years to connect with my mom and be able to have something in common with her that can be our thing that we do.”

McKenzie said she wasn’t expecting everyone to show up, including a friend who drove over from the University of South Florida; former softball teammates Leah Stevens, a pitcher with the University of Florida, who had to be back that night to fly with her team the next day for a three-game series at the University of Kentucky; and Ashley Sampselle, who also drove over from UF.

“It's just so special to have everyone come, and my cousins. My little cousins came to their first game tonight, so it was really special and cool.”


CLANTON PITCHES COMPLETE GAME

The game was originally scheduled on March 12 but was moved up a day because of rain in the forecast for Friday.

The Pirates improved to 5-3 with the victory. Junior Destiny Clanton, who is in her first season with Matanzas after moving from Georgia, pitched the Pirates’ first complete game of the season. Clanton allowed four hits and four walks and struck out eight batters.

Ava Henige went 3 for 3 with two RBIs for the Pirates. Alondra Vincenty hit a double and a triple and drove in three runs. Sophia Staub had two doubles and two RBIs.

The Bulldogs (2-7) pulled to within 3-1 in the third as Eleanor Snedeker scored on Layla Sackett’s base hit. But the Pirates scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-1 and scored two more runs in the sixth.

FPC coach Brooklyn Jimeson said her young team has been progressing since a 15-0, four-inning loss to Matanzas in the season opener on Feb. 17.

“We've been talking with our girls about trusting the process, about getting better every day.” Jimeson said. “We're really young. We only have three upperclassmen starting in the field right now. We're really excited for the future. We know these girls have a lot of talent, and they work hard. Even in the last month from when we started, we've gotten so much better. That’s all we can ask for.”

After spring break, Matanzas will host Taylor on March 24. FPC will travel to Seabreeze on March 23.

 

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