Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Buchholz’s time and opponent in the state semifinals.
Buchholz baseball overcame top-seeded Pace and its home-field advantage for a second straight year in the FHSAA Class 6A-Region 1 Final. The No. 2 seeded Bobcats heated up their bats early in the first game and kept up the pressure to sweep the series.
That sends Buchholz to the Class 6A final four at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. The Bobcats, who moved up to the No. 1 overall seed, will play No. 4 seed Martin County (Stuart) at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 15, in the state semifinals. The Class 6A state championship is at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Game 1: Buchholz 10, Pace 2 – The visiting Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning and never looked back to take Game 1 of its best-of-three series.
Senior Zac Brown had a pair of hits, including a triple and three runs driven in and a run scored, senior Aidan Kastensmidt was 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored, and junior Roen Kresak had two hits, a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Florida Gulf Coast University signee Reed Thomas threw 6.2 innings and allowed just two runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
“The pitching and defense was the key,” Buchholz coach Chris Malphurs said. “Reed Thomas really set us up with a great start in Game 1, going 6.2 innings on 99 pitches. Aidan Kastensmidt and Cohen Lafler did a great job teaming up to handle Game 2. Offensively, 20 runs on 20 hits. We felt comfortable with our game plan going in and our hitters executed everything to perfection. It was one of those special nights where we were able to pretty much do whatever we wanted offensively.”
Buchholz will be making its third straight final four appearance.
“We’re ecstatic to be going back to Fort Myers,” Malphurs said. “It’s so hard to get there. All the credit goes to our kids. They’re winners, and winners win. We’re going to enjoy this ride home and then get back to work on Monday.”
Game 2: Buchholz 10, Pace 6 – The bats stayed hot for the Bobcats, who advanced to their third straight final four appearance.
Buchholz (24-7) scored five runs in the first inning and finished the game with 10 hits to sweep the Patriots (26-6).
“First off, I can’t say enough about our team, the resiliency they showed,” said Malphurs. “Going on the road to the panhandle, sitting through rain delays and then playing 5.5 hours of error-free baseball in steady rain. It was a miserable night for baseball in one of the most hostile environments in the state of Florida and our kids did what our kids do. Played winning baseball with great energy and effort. This team has tremendous guts.”
Kastensmidt, a Jacksonville University signee, struggled on the mound (2.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 0 K), but he helped lead the ‘Cats at the plate with a pair of hits, including a double and three runs driven in. Brown and senior Blake Brewer also had two hits.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University signee Cohen Lafler came in relief and tossed 4.2 innings, allowing no earned runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Lafler went over 100 strikeouts in his career.
FHSAA baseball state playoffs
(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)
Friday, May 8 Rural-Region 3 Finals
1 Union County (Lake Butler) 14, 3 Lafayette (Mayo) 3 (5) – Union County leads series 1-0
Rural-Region 4 Finals
1 Trenton 6, 3 Williston 1 – Trenton leads series 1-0
Class 3A-Region 1 Finals1 South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) 2, 3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 1
1 South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) 10, 3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 0 (6) – South Walton wins series 2-0
Class 6A-Region 1 Finals
2 Buchholz 10, 1 Pace 2 – Buchholz leads 1-0
2 Buchholz 10, 1 Pace 6 – Buchholz wins series 2-0
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