A year ago, the Trenton Tigers baseball team upset Newberry on their way to a surprise run to the Rural state semifinals in Fort Myers.

That Tigers team finished with a .500 record and was led by mostly freshmen.

Coming into the 2025 season, much was expected of a more experienced Trenton team. And the Tigers lived up to the billing, finishing 24-5 and advancing back to the state semifinals, where they were eliminated 5-1 by Lafayette (Mayo).

So it’s not surprising that Trenton led the way with four selections to the Main Street Daily News Small School (Rural and 1A) All Area baseball team.

Trenton was led by sophomores Brant Bivens and Mason VunCannon.

Bivens split time between the mound and shortstop, leading the Tigers with 46 hits, 27 RBI, and 13 doubles with a .442 average, also scoring 37 runs. Bivens tied for the team lead in pitching wins, going 9-1 with a 3.30 ERA with 55 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 53 innings.

“Brant Bivens is a five-tool player who was great on the mound, in the field and the leadoff spot,” Trenton coach Chris Marlo said. “He could hit for average and could hit for power and has had a high on-base percentage. He’s been a team leader year by year.”

VunCannon had an equally fine season on the mound for Trenton, tying Bivens with nine wins and leading the team with a 2.71 ERA as well as a team-high 68 strikeouts and only 28 walks in 54.1 innings. He hit .373 with 37 runs, 31 hits and six doubles.

“Mason VunCannon had an outstanding sophomore season on the mound and at the plate,” Marlo said. “He was able to play outfield and infield and was a vital part of his team’s 24-5 record. He also pitched in big games and had clutch hits all season.”

Senior Jordan Marlo had a huge year at the plate for Trenton. The West Georgia signee hit a team-leading .513 and added 39 hits, 38 runs, 23 RBI and 10 doubles along with three home runs.

“Jordan was probably one of the best ball players to ever come through the Tri-County area,” Chris Marlo said.  “One of the most feared hitters, intentionally walked 15 times in his senior year with 30+ walks overall, and still hit .513 with four homers.”

The fourth and final Trenton representative is junior outfielder Ty Moses. Moses batted .333 with 26 runs, 33 hits, 24 RBI, six doubles and two homers. He was also 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA in seven appearances and 19 innings pitched on the mound.

“Ty Moses is a versatile player who could play anywhere on the field,” Chris Marlo said. “He’s also a five-tool player.”

Branford had a successful 2025 season, going 21-9 and qualifying for the playoffs, where they lost to Union County (Lake Butler) in the regional semifinals. The Bucs placed two players on the Small School All Area squad.

Senior Patrick Williams was chosen as a pitcher for the team and went 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 appearances and 69 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. He was also big for Branford at the plate, finishing with a .396 average, a team-leading 34 runs and 38 hits, and seven doubles along with two homers.

“Patrick Williams was a quiet leader by example and we’re going to miss him next year,” Branford coach Brian Williamson said. “He did everything all out without question and was extremely coachable. He was a big jolt to our offense hitting at the top of the order and batted over .400 for most of the season.”

“He was very reliable on the mound, ultimately being the ace of the staff this season. The complete game he pitched against Union County to get us to the District Championship game was about as well as anyone has thrown for us in a few years in a big game.”

Junior Jackson Skinner was chosen as a utility player. He batted a team-high .430 with 28 runs and 34 hits, and also led the Bucs with 30 RBI, eight doubles, and three home runs. Skinner was also huge on the mound for Branford, with a 5-2 record and 1.87 ERA in nine appearances, and 61 strikeouts in only 30 innings pitched.

 “Jackson Skinner was also a big reason why our offense was so productive this season,” Williamson said.  “He hit cleanup for us and had multiple clutch hits, whether it be a double in the gap with runners on, a home run, or even if it was as simple as hitting a sac fly late in the game or fighting off a two-strike pitch to the right side to score a guy from third. He was very reliable on the mound and was extremely effective behind the plate and his baseball IQ is excellent. He’s a weapon behind the plate. I’m really excited to have him back for another season.”

It was a huge season for Saint Francis Catholic Academy baseball. The Wolves had a school-record 21 wins, claiming their first district title and first regional playoff win as they beat Oak Hall in three games in the 1A region quarterfinals.

Freshman Andy Janelle represents Saint Francis Catholic on the small school team. Janelle batted .365 with a team-high 37 runs, and also 31 hits, 17 RBI, and five doubles.

“Andy had an outstanding season and played a big part in the success we had as a team,” former Saint Francis Catholic head coach Ryan Brown said. “He did a tremendous job as our leadoff hitter and set the tone for our offense. He had 31 hits this year, and to do that as a freshman is pretty special. He also played incredible defense for us all season long at second base.”

Union County only had a 14-16 record in 2025, but advanced to the Rural Region Final, where they were eliminated by eventual state runner-up Lafayette. The Tigers are represented by junior outfielder Jeremy Brugh.

Brugh led the Tigers with a .365 average, 31 runs and 38 hits.

Senior first baseman Trey Meeks helped lead Chiefland to the Rural region playoffs. He led the Indians in almost every offensive category, batting .378 with 22 runs, 31 hits, 21 RBI, 10 doubles and five home runs. Chiefland finished 13-12 and was eliminated by Trenton in the Rural region semifinals.

Williston missed out on the Rural state playoffs but was represented on the squad by senior catcher Blake Martin. Martin led Williston with a .403 average and also paced the Red Devils with 25 hits, 29 RBI and seven doubles.

The final member of the small school team is the leading hitter in batting average in the area, Oak Hall senior infielder and pitcher Gavin Jones. Jones, who will stay in Gainesville and play at Santa Fe College, batted .559 with a team-high 38 hits, 35 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples, and four homers. He also made 10 appearances on the mound with 51 strikeouts as the Eagles advanced back to the 1A playoffs.

2025 Bosshardt Realty All Area Small School Baseball Team (Rural & Class 1A)

C – Blake Martin, Williston (SR)

INF – Jordan Marlo, Trenton (SR)

INF – Trey Meeks, Chiefland (SR)

INF – Andy Janelle, Saint Francis Catholic Academy (FR)

INF – Gavin Jones, Oak Hall (SR)

OF – Jeffrey Brugh, Union County (JR)

OF – Ty Moses, Trenton (JR)

OF – Mason VunCannon, Trenton (SO)

Utility – Jackson Skinner, Branford (JR)

P – Brant Bivens, Trenton (SO)

P – Patrick Williams, Branford (SR)

Honorable mentions

Bell – Rocco Iovinelli (SR), Chance Mandarino (SR), Dean Glass (SO), RJ Lefler (SO), Jackson Philman (FR)

Branford – Troy Roberts (SR), Enalee Perry (JR), Kyler Williamson (SO)

Bronson—Tristen O’Neal (SR), Zach McClelland (SR), T Petrykowski

Chiefland – Luke Watkins (SR), Taylor Brown (SR), Hunter Boyd (SR), Osten Jones (SR), Brice Thomas (SO)

Countryside Christian – Jace Reustle (SR), Clay Dees (SR), Hunter Burgess (JR), Brayden Dalton (JR), Emory Alford (SO), Lucas Gruenwald (FR)

Dixie County (Cross City) – Mason Jones (JR), Gray Wampler (JR), Kage Norton (SO), Joel Lord (SO)

Fort White – Patrick Kennedy (SR), Tucker Flynn (JR), Cadan Hall (JR), Aaron Parnell (FR)

Hawthorne – Connor Flinchum (SO), Tison Thomas (SO), Branson Byrd (FR), Hunter Thomas (8^th)

Oak Hall – Brody Beaupre (SR), Graham Rosenstone (JR), Aaron Akins (JR), Brayden Farmer (FR), Lincoln Jones (8^th)

Saint Francis Catholic Academy – Dylan Diaz (SR), Liam Green (SR), Chris Durstine (JR), Nate Muir (JR), Sawyer Williams (SO), Colin Kuruppacherry (SO), Jake Long (SO)

Trenton – Isaac Johnson (SR), Pierson Weatherilt (SO), Noah Owens (SO), Zane McArdle (FR)

Union County (Lake Butler) – Devin Diggs (SR), Jake Walker (SR), Trenton Klein (SR), Erick Lassetter (JR)

Williston – Waylon Geiger (SR), Breeden Clemenzi (SR), Anthony Gardea (SR), Jacob Loock (SR), Braige Schneider (SO)