Gainesville wins district title in thriller

Gainesville celebrates after capturing its third straight district championship in a 7-6 win over Deltona.

Photo by C.J. Gish

Key Points

Gainesville won the District 5-5A softball championship by scoring six runs in the sixth inning for a 7-6 victory over Deltona.
Senior pitcher Leanna Bourdage, despite illness, struck out seven batters and secured the save in the seventh inning.
Gainesville earned its third straight district title and will host a 5A playoff game next Thursday with the opponent to be announced Friday.

The Hurricanes found themselves down 4-1 to Deltona heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of their District 5-5A softball championship game on Thursday night.

One big inning and six runs later, GHS had earned another district title.

Top-seeded Gainesville scored six runs in the sixth inning and held off third-seeded Deltona’s rally in the top of the 7th for a 7-6 win that earned the Hurricanes their third straight district title and fifth in six years.

Gainesville won its third straight district title with a 7-6 win over Deltona in the 5A-Distrct 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville won its third straight district title with a 7-6 win over Deltona in the 5A-Distrct 5 championship game.

“I can live with that,” Gainesville coach Chris Chronister joked. “It’s always great to get the district championship. That’s one goal we have for the season, but it’s definitely not the final goal. We have to come out next week and be ready to go because it’s win or go home.”

Gainesville (14-6) will host at least a first-round 5A playoff game next Thursday. The Hurricanes will learn their opponent on Friday afternoon.

The Hurricanes had to work for this district title and did it without the normal dominating pitching performance by senior Leanna Bourdage.

Bourdage, a Texas A&M signee, struck out seven of the first eight batters, but allowed three runs and four hits with three walks in five innings. She returned in the seventh, after Aubrey Huddleston replaced her in the sixth inning, with one out and got the save, getting the final out on a running catch by left fielder Taylor Rogers with the tying run at third base.

Gainesville's Taylor Rogers (11) catches the third and final out in the top of the seventh inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish 1 (1) — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Taylor Rogers (11) catches the third and final out in the top of the seventh inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

“She (Bourdage) wasn’t on her best game, but she wasn’t completely healthy,” Chronister said. “She’s been battling some illness and it definitely had an effect on her tonight.”

Gainesville got on the board in the second inning on an RBI double by first baseman Adriana Koralewski.

Gainesville pitcher Leanna Bourdage (14) started in the circle against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville pitcher Leanna Bourdage (14) started in the circle against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

In the top of the third inning, Bourdage walked back-to-back hitters with two outs and both runners scored on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.

Deltona (13-5) extended the lead with runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a 4-1 advantage.

Gainesville only had two hits going into the bottom of the sixth, but the Hurricanes then sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring six runs on four hits while Deltona pitchers walked five and hit a batter.

Gainesville's Emma Barton (3) catches the third out in the top of the third inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Emma Barton (3) catches the third out in the top of the third inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Emma Barton and Makenna Young both walked with the bases loaded to bring GHS within 4-3. Koralewski followed with a two-run single for a 5-4 lead. An Aubree Suarez hit drove in a run and another bases-loaded walk made it 7-4.

Deltona cut the lead to 7-6 in the seventh before Bourdage finished it off for Gainesville.

“That wasn’t the way you draw it up,” Chronister said. “But at the end of the we will take a W anyway we can get it.”

Gainesville coach Chris Chronister all smiles after the Hurricanes rallied to win their third straight district title in a 7-6 win over Deltona. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville coach Chris Chronister was all smiles after the Hurricanes rallied to win their third straight district title in a 7-6 win over Deltona.

Gainesville's Lana Renicks (15) barely misses a tag out in the seventh inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Lana Renicks (15) barely misses a tag out in the seventh inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Gainesville's Adriana Koralewski (16) hustles on her way home for a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Adriana Koralewski (16) hustles on her way home for a 6-4 lead in the sixth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Gainesville pitcher Leanna Bourdage (14) came out in the sixth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville pitcher Leanna Bourdage (14) came out in the sixth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Gainesville's Aubree Suarez (7) hit a one-run double in the sixth inning for a 6-4 lead against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Aubree Suarez (7) hit a one-run double in the sixth inning for a 6-4 lead against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Gainesville's Lana Renicks (15) makes a catch for the third out in the fifth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Lana Renicks (15) makes a catch for the third out in the fifth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Gainesville's Aubrey Huddleston (12) pitched in the sixth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Aubrey Huddleston (12) pitched in the sixth inning against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

Gainesville's Lana Renicks (15) and Emma Barton (3) score in the sixth inning for a 5-4 lead against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game. Photo by C.J. Gish — Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Lana Renicks (15) and Emma Barton (3) score in the sixth inning for a 5-4 lead against Deltona in the 5A-District 5 championship game.

FHSAA softball district tournament championships

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)

Thursday, April 30

Class Rural-District 6

1 Branford 11, 3 Dixie County (Cross City) 0 (6)

Class Rural-District 7

1 Trenton 12, 2 Williston 2 (5)

Class 1A-District 5

1 Newberry 4, 2 Keystone Heights 3 (8)

Class 3A-District 2

1 Wakulla (Crawfordville) 16, 2 Suwannee (Live Oak) 1 (4)

Class 3A-District 5

1 Santa Fe (Alachua) 9, 2 Palatka 4

Class 4A-District 3

2 Columbia (Lake City) 7, 1 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 4

Class 5A-District 5

1 Gainesville 7, 3 Deltona 6

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Marty Pallman

Marty Pallman is a sports correspondent and broadcaster for Mainstreet Daily News. Marty has worked in play-by-play and as color commentator for high school and college sports for 15 years, as well as a writer. He currently works for the University of Florida and Santa Fe College as well as the "Voice of the Bishop Kenny Crusaders" on radio in Jacksonville. Marty has also assisted Mike Ridaught with The Prep Zone since 2008.

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