Bartram Trail wins Class 5A softball state championship

By FRANCINE KING
The Times-Union

PLANT CITY — The Bartram Trail High School softball team scored four runs in the first inning, then held on for a 4-2 victory over Venice in the Class 5A state championship game Thursday night at Plant City Stadium.

Bears pitcher Molly Manning (24-3), a Villanova University signee, struck out 15 and allowed four hits in the win over the previously unbeaten Indians (31-1).

Bartram Trail shortstop Christie Bailey hit a two-run single and later scored on an error by Venice’s second baseman to help the Bears (30-3) to their 4-0 lead. The Indians responded with two runs in the fourth, but Manning stopped the rally with a strikeout.