When you’ve already set the bar high, sometimes it’s hard to reach that bar again. However, that’s not the case for Eustis softball coach Brittany Beall, the Lake & Sumter Style 2024 Softball Coach of the year. Beall already has an impressive resume: accomplished high school player, D1 player at the University of Auburn, 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers 4A Coach of the Year, state champion coach…but yet again, she’s led her team to the pinnacle.

Her 2024 Eustis squad just claimed the 2024 FHSAA 4A softball state championship with a 1-0 victory over Baker County last Friday in Clermont. Eustis finished the season with an impressive 26-2 record with their only losses coming to class 3A state champ Montverde Academy (7-6) and 7A Lake Mary (2-1).

This isn’t Beall’s first rodeo either. Beall has been at the helm of the Eustis program for the last 16 years and over the last 10 years her teams’ records are an astounding 211-39. Her 2016 squad lost in the state finals 2-1 and her 2021 and 2024 squads both claimed state championships.

With such an impressive tenure already, you might think Beall would be one to get complacent but that’s not the case at all. When asked what keeps her motivated from year to year, Coach Beall said, “knowing that each year I get to make an impact on young women’s lives and walk hand in hand with them every step throughout the highs and the lows”. As evidenced by the teams’ records in recent years there haven’t been many lows but Beall said each year presents a unique challenge.

This year’s team had the luxury of having six senior starters, all of which signed to play college softball. But, the team also had youth in the form of two freshman starters and one sophomore starter. This senior group could well have had back-to-back state championships if not for the regional final loss last year to upstart Lake Wales which entered regional play as a district runner-up and 3 seed, before reeling off five straight wins to win the 2023 championship after going 15-10 in the regular season.

When asked what the most important aspect of a championship team is, Beall didn’t hesitate by responding, “having everyone trust the process”. “It takes an entire team embracing their roles and being there when the team needs you most”. Beall said that every player needs to understand the importance of their role, no matter how big or small that role might be.

Whatever role was needed this year, Beall usually made the right decision…whether it be a pinch runner, a pitching change or when to give someone a day off or rest during a game. One other question Coach Beall answered was what two words her team would use to describe her. Without hesitation, her first word was tough and immediately after tough she responded with love!

JOE OTT PHOTOGRAPY

Most coaches always have superstitions or certain game day routines that they do. When Coach Beall was asked about her favorite part of game days, she said, “our pregame warmups are special and only I get to do those with the team”. She said, “it’s always about that ‘juju’”! Even with all of the wins and two state championships, Coach Beall said her biggest accomplishment is, “seeing my past and current players winning in life off the field. It’s always bigger than softball”.

With two state championships in the last four years, one should probably expect more of the same from Coach Beall and the Panthers in the years to come. With a young squad returning in 2025, Coach Beall is sure to rise to the challenge and develop the squad much the same as she has over the last 16 years. Congrats to both Coach Beall and the 2024 Eustis Panther softball team!