SOUTHWEST
SOFTBALL
HISTORY

The state of Florida held its first state softball tournament in 1988 and a mere three years later Southwest made its first appearance in the Final Four, falling to Dunedin in the semifinals after beating Southridge for the Regional championship. Coach Michele Pool's team finished 21-5. In 1994, Jennie Stemmer was named Honorable Mention All-American. The Lady Eagles returned to the state playoffs in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2003, losing the regional championship game, 1-0, in '03. The following year Southwest won it all under coach Maritza Diaz, crushing Weston Cypress Bay, 8-0, in the state championship game in Tampa. Read the Miami Herald's coverage here and the Sun Sentinel's story here. Junior pitcher Missy Penna (see bio at right) was the undisputed star of that 27-3 team. In Penna's senior season, Southwest was unable to repeat, losing the regional championship game in a 1-0 heartbreaker to Palmetto. The Lady Eagles returned to the state playoffs six more times in 2007-2010, 2012 and 2013 but never made it back to the state Final Four.

  
MISSY PENNA
Class of 2005
Missy Penna is undoubtedly the greatest softball player in Southwest history and perhaps in Miami-Dade County history. She led the Lady Eagles to a state championship in 2004, allowing only one earned run all season. The Miami Herald Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2005, she was also named the Herald's Female Athlete of the Year in 2004 and 2005. Penna was selected as All-State her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and the Florida 6A Pitcher of the Year in 2003 and 2004. A Wendy's Heisman state finalist, she also helped her volleyball team to the State Final Four her junior and senior years. Penna went on to Stanford University, where she majored in civil engineering, compiled a 25-3 record on the mound, was one of 10 finalists for the 2009 national player of the year award, a 2008 ESPN Academic All-District First Team member and a two-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete. She was inducted into the Southwest Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

EAGLES IN COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Graduated
Player
 College
1981
 Marsha Brown North Carolina
1987
 Thamy Gonzalez Miami-Dade South CC, Barry
1987
 Stephanie Nuñez Miami-Dade South CC
1987
 Lisette Sarradet Miami-Dade South CC
1991
 Missy Gotay Miami-Dade South CC
1995
 Jennie Stemmer Miami-Dade Kendall CC
2004
 Jessica Sciulli Savannah College of Art and Design
2004
 Jackie Yaniga George Washington
2005
 Missy Penna Stanford
2006
 Leanne Penna Columbia
2006
 Jessica Hernandez Nova Southeastern
2008
 Jamie Yaniga George Washington
2010
 Hannah Penna DePaul
2012
 Jenny Castanon St. Andrews University
2012
 Stephanie Cabrices Miami-Dade College, Webber International
2015
 Stephanie Garcia Broward College
2017
 Kayla Patino Miami-Dade College
2023
 D'Lani Navarro New College
Documented additions to the list should be sent to the webmaster.