By Dave Brousseau

FORT LAUDERDALE – Prior to the 2026 high school softball season, Coral Springs Charter owned a tight grip on Cardinal Gibbons having won 16 consecutive games dating back to 2008.

Then behind the strong pitching performances by senior Lydia Berent, Gibbons defeated Charter in the BCAA Big title game and for the district title.

The Panthers, winners of five consecutive state championships from 2015-19 finally had an answer for Berent’s dominance with a pair of home runs by junior Cameron Theile and freshman Jazzy Chung to earn  a 3-1 victory over the Chiefs in the Class 3A regional final on Thursday.

Charter (21-4) advances to a state semifinal game on May 21 at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood. The championship is scheduled for May 22 at 5 p.m.

“This particular group has never been there,” said Coral Springs Charter coach Mark Montimurro. “We tried to paint the picture how wonderful it is. We knew we had the group to do it. We brought our A-game against one of the pitchers in the state.”

The loss snapped Cardinal Gibbons 21-game winning streak and bid for the school’s first state championship. They ended the season with the best record (26-2) in school history.

“I don’t think disappointment is what comes to my mind,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Emily Estroff. “This hurts and it stings. We’ll feel good about it heading into next year.

We’re in a tough district and region. I think if you stick us and Charter away from each other anywhere else, we’d both win a state title.”

While junior pitcher Courtney Wahlbrink was shutting down the Chiefs hitters, Theile over the left-centerfield fence on the top of the third inning for a 1-0 lead.

“Going into this game I had high hopes,” said Theile. “I never had any doubt and we trusted each other. I never really was a home run hitter. I was just out there swinging for my team. When I hit that pitch, I knew it was gone.”

Chung hit her second round-tripper of the season in the top of the sixth inning, and the Panthers would lead 3-0.

“I knew from my first at bat what she was going to throw me,” said Chung. “I saw that pitch and I just went for it. It looked good and I swung and I knew off the bat it was gone.”

It would be more than enough runs for Wahlbrink as she held Gibbons without a hit through six innings.

The Chiefs finally produced a run following a Skylar Flack single and an RBI double from Morgan Beavers. Sloane Schaefer ground out to end the threat.

Walhbrink (20-4) finished the afternoon, allowing two hits, two walks and a hit batter on 69 pitches.  

“We all had that momentum after beating Somerset Academy on Tuesday,” said Wahlbrink. “We took that momentum and brought in here today. I knew the third time was the charm and I knew we could do it.”

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.