Palm Harbor U. will make their first Final Four appearance since 2005, after a 6-1 win over Osceola in the 9A, Region 2 Championship.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an early lead, behind three straight hits to start the game from Jada Radecki, Taylor Scott and Mia Buffano (2-run double).  Taylor Norwood added an RBI double to make the score 3-0 before Osceola even came to the plate.

Buffano, a sophomore who committed to Florida in the 8th grade, blasted her eighth home run of the season over the right field wall in the top of the 3rd, while Scott (North Florida signee) added a 2-run triple the following inning to help her own cause in the circle.

After two consecutive shutouts in the playoffs, Scott started perfect through the first three innings.  She allowed her first playoff run in the bottom of the 6th, but still improved to 9-1 on the season, throwing 5.2 innings allowing only five hits, one earned run and striking out five Kowboys.

Osceola did threaten in that 6th inning, with a double from freshman Leyla LaBoy and an RBI single from Trinity Gibbs (Howard University commit).  Audra Thompson, another freshman, doubled to put runners on second and third.

PHU head coach Kerry Katchuk turned to sophomore Savanna Bennett in the circle, who induced a lineout to second for the final out of the inning and allowed only one hit in the bottom of the 7th to secure the victory.

With the win, Palm Harbor U. (28-2) extends their winning streak to 15 games and clinches a Final Four berth for the first time since National Player of the Year Dani Hofer led the Canes to a state title 12 years ago.  It was their 32nd playoff win in program history, second-best in Pinellas County history.

Osceola (19-10) sees their surprising postseason run end, one game after the Kowboys upset Timber Creek in the Region Semifinals.