DELTONA — Karyana Mitchell dealt the Deltona Wolves another dose of regional semifinal heartbreak.
Mitchell broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning with a three-run home run off Wolves ace Abby Killian, propelling Viera to a 5-2 victory on Tuesday. Deltona (24-3) has won seven consecutive district titles, yet has never advanced beyond the second round.
For Wolves coach Lindsay Ingram, this loss felt particularly painful because of the circumstances of the tying run. The Hawks put runners on first and second to open the inning, and Morgan Mordas drove a single into center. Kelly Bishop rounded third and was ruled safe at the plate due to obstruction by Wolves catcher Chelsea Harris.
"It's upsetting because the umpires took it from us," Ingram said. "That one call changed the whole momentum."
Harris added: "I had the ball before (Bishop) was even close to me. I don't understand how it's obstruction. If I have the ball, he can't call anything whether I'm blocking the plate or not."
Two batters later, Mitchell put Viera (25-1) ahead for good, hammering a hanging two-strike curveball over the left-field wall.
Deltona battled back from an early 1-0 hole, created by Taylor Jensen's RBI single in the top half of the first. Harris tied the score in the fourth with a seeing-eye single through the right side, and Mitchell misplayed a bunt and threw wide of first to bring home Deltona's second run an inning later.
Killian finished with 14 strikeouts, and Flo Betancourt added two hits. Morgan Lebeda doubled off the top of the wall, barely missing an 11th home run of the season.
Viera will face Tampa Chamberlain, a 7-2 winner over Winter Haven, in the Region 2-7A final on Friday.
SPRUCE CREEK 2, UNIVERSITY 0: For the third year in a row, Spruce Creek is the last local softball team standing.
Olivia Caiazzo and Lexi Clark drew bases-loaded walks in the first inning, and Tiana Hernandez and Kassi Clark combined for a shutout as the Hawks eliminated University, 2-0, in a Region 1-9A semifinal.
Winners of seven straight games, Spruce Creek (19-10) hosts Winter Garden West Orange at 7 p.m. Friday for a spot in the Final Four.
"Third time's the charm, maybe," Hawks coach Cameron McClelland said. "The girls have bought in and do everything we ask in practice. Mentally, they're in the best place they have been all year."
Marissa Adame struck out nine batters for University (21-6), allowing six hits and five walks. The 19-game winner threw 117 pitches.
Kenny Walters rolled the dice on three consecutive pinch-hitters in the seventh, and nearly watched his gamble pay off. Freshman Rachel Kenis doubled to deep left and Mickenzie Jones worked her way on after getting hit by a pitch.
But Kassi Clark induced game-ending fly balls from the Titans' top two hitters in the order, Kailyn Dozier and Kendall Walsh. Like Deltona, University also has never made it to a region final since the program's start in 2010.
"I think the hype gets to us," Titans coach Kenny Walters said. "We're used to winning ballgames during the season, but the playoffs are where we get a little scared and a little timid."