CLEWISTON- After a stellar regular season that saw them tally up a 17-6 record, the Clewiston High School Lady Tiger varsity softball team is preparing to enter the playoffs to face King’s Academy in the district semifinal.

The Lady Tigers finished their regular season with another dominating win over Glades Day, beating the Lady Gators 10-2 on April 15. Sophomore Ryland Polhill led the team with two RBIs on the night. On the pitchers mound Ryland struck out 14 batters in seven innings to close out the win.

Clewiston is hosting this year’s district semifinal at Sugarland Park, with the 10-4 King’s Academy Lady Lions making the trip to Hendry County from West Palm Beach. The Lady Tigers gave King’s Academy one of their four losses earlier this season when the two teams met up on March 23.

After the Lady Tigers jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the second inning, King’s Academy battled their way back to take a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

During their last chance to retake the lead in the top of the seventh, the Lady Tigers delivered.

Clewiston’s Ali Cruz led off with a single. Jayla Vallejo followed that up with a grounder to the short stop. King’s Academy was able to throw out Vallejo at first, but the hit still advanced Cruz to second base. Jade Potter then singled on a grounder up the third base line.

With the tying run on third and winning run on first, Macy Chancey stepped up to the plate and hit an absolute dart to center field. Cruz reached home to tie the game, and Potter wasn’t far behind. King’s Academy attempted to pick off Potter between third and home, but smart base running and a quick reaction from Potter put the Lady Tigers up 8-7.

The Lady Lions led off with a double in the bottom of the seventh as they attempted to rally once again, But Polhill sat down the next two batters before finally striking out King’s Academy's Margot McFadden swinging.

With how evenly these two teams were matched in the regular season, the district semifinal rematch should provide plenty of drama for the Lady Tigers faithful making the trip out to Sugarland Park to support their squad.

The winner of the game will face either Oxbridge Academy, American Heritage, or Cardinal Newman on April 29 in the district championship.

Clewiston and King’s Academy take the field in the district semifinal at 6 p.m. on April 27.