Mike Ridaught
This week the Florida Dairy Farmers announced their state finalists for athlete/player of the year and coaches of the year in track & field and baseball. Softball will be released next week.
While there were no area high school team state championships among the spring sports, the individual performances are not going unnoticed.
Senior Kyren Washington of Santa Fe (Alachua) and junior Ta’Joun Waldon of Eastside were nominees for the Class 2A Athlete of the Year after winning individual state titles.
Washington, who signed with the University of Oklahoma, won a state title in the high jump (6-9 ½), while Waldon won the 2A title in the triple jump (45-2 ½).
They finished behind junior Micahi Danzy of Florida High (Tallahassee), who swept the 200-meter (21.16) and 400-meter (46.11) state titles. His 400-meter time was the fastest in all classes at the state meet.
Senior Seth Stockton of Columbia (Lake City), who won the 3A triple jump state title (47-9), finished behind 3A Athlete of the Year Chris Johnson of Dillard (Ft. Lauderdale). The senior, who has signed to play football at the University of Miami, swept the 100-meter (10.25) and 200-meter (20.40) state titles.
His winning times in both events were the fastest in all classes at the state meet.
There was just one area nominee in girls track & field, Nicole Shepherd of Bell. The senior won the Class 1A high jump state title (5-3 3/4) but it was Skyy Dixon of Providence (Jacksonville) who would claim Class 1A Track Athlete of the Year after the junior swept the 100-meter (11.79) and 200-meter (24.46) titles and finished third in the 400-meters.
The Columbia (Lake City) baseball team advanced to its second straight state semifinals appearance thanks to senior Josh Fernald.
The UCF signee hit a walk-off grand slam against Lincoln (Tallahassee) in the bottom of the 7th inning for an 8-4 win in the Class 5A-Region 1 Semifinals to keep the season alive.
The senior carried a 9-0 record and a 0.56 ERA into his state semifinal appearance against American Heritage (Plantation) before suffering his first loss of the season in a 5-2 loss to the Patriots in the 5A state semifinals.
He was a .342 hitter with seven triples and three home runs for the Tigers (24-6).
On Friday, he finished runner-up in the voting for the 5A Player of the Year, behind Wes Mendes of state runner-up Jesuit (Tampa), who finished with a 4-0 record and a 1.48 ERA. The University of Mississippi commit had a .404 batting average with 5 home runs, 41 runs scored and 36 RBI.
Newberry’s Mike Spina finished third in the voting for the Class 1A Coach of the Year after leading the Panthers to their second final four appearance in the last three years. Newberry, which won the 2021 state title, lost 1-0 in extra innings to eventual state champion Chipley in the state semifinals.
Although they are just outside the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area, the North Marion (Citra) Colts did win their first baseball state title in program history.
On Friday, North Marion senior pitcher Karson Lindsey was named the Class 4A Player of the Year.
Lindsey threw a one-hit shutout in a 5-0 win against Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) in the Class 4A state title game. He finished the year with a 10-0 record, a 1.48 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched.
The South Georgia State College commit also batted .357 with three home runs and 22 RBI.
His coach, Dale Hall, was named the 4A Coach of the Year.
Hall led the Colts to the state title game in 2021, but their title bid came up short against North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek).
That year, shortstop Derek Fabian was named Florida’s Mr. Baseball.
Today was the deadline for the Miss Softball and Coach of the Year voting. The classification winners will be announced next week.
Among the area nominees included the battery of pitcher Bria Hinkle and catcher Peyton Hatcher. The dynamic duo helped lead Dixie County (Cross City) to its second straight Class 1A state semifinal appearance with a win at top-ranked Williston in the region final.
Hatcher finished the season with a .513 batting average, 26 runs scored, 27 RBI, 16 doubles, three triples and two home runs. She also had a .995 fielding percentage.
Hinkle finished 21-5 in the circle with a 1.38 ERA. In 157 innings pitched she struck out 212 batters. She also batted .424 with 21 runs scored and 19 RBI.
Branford sophomore pitcher Laila Arnold (17-4, 1.65 ERA, 166 IP, 256 Ks) was also nominated after leading the Bucs to the Class 1A state championship game.
Following are the 2023 Mr. Baseball Award finalists:
Christian Rodriguez, Senior, Pitcher, Stoneman Douglas, Class 7A Player of the Year
Helped his squad to the Class 7A state title with a 12-0 record and an 0.69 ERA. He had 117 strikeouts in 71 innings with 13 walks. Committed to the University of Florida.
Caden McDonald, Senior, Pitcher/First Baseman, Sickles, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led his team to the Class 6A state title with a 7-1 record, an 0.87 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 73 innings. Had a .383 batting average with 12 home runs, 24 runs scored and 33 RBI. Committed to the University of Central Florida.
Wes Mendes, Pitcher/Outfielder, Jesuit, Class 5A Player of the Year
Helped his squad to a Class 5A state runner-up finish with a 4-0 record and a 1.48 ERA. Had a .404 batting average with 5 home runs, 41 runs scored and 36 RBI. Committed to the University of Mississippi.
Karson Lindsey, Senior, Pitcher, North Marion, Class 4A Player of the Year
Helped his team to the state title with a 10-0 record, a 1.48 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 70 innings. Had a .357 batting average with 3 home runs and 22 RBI. Committed to South Georgia State College.
Liam Peterson, Senior, Pitcher/Outfielder, Calvary Christian, Class 3A Player of the Year
Helped his team to the Class 3A state championship with a .484 batting average, 5 home runs and 43 RBI. Had a 5-2 record with a 1.78 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 39 innings. Committed to the University of Florida.
Austin Schrowe, Senior, Pitcher/Outfielder, Canterbury, Class 2A Player of the Year
Helped his team to a 26-5 record and a spot in the regional finals with a 9-1 record, an 0.95 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 59 innings. Had a .433 batting average with 18 runs scored and 21 RBI. Committed to the University of South Florida.
Bryson Howard, Senior, Pitcher, Chipley, Class 1A Player of the Year
Helped his team to the Class 1A state title with an 8-1 record and a 1.59 ERA. Had 108 strikeouts in 70 innings with 19 walks.
Following are the 2023 Baseball Coach of the Year finalists:
Todd Fitz-Gerald, Stoneman Douglas, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 29-0 record and a third straight Class 7A state title. First Florida team to finish unbeaten since Calvary Christian in 2017. Currently on a 51-game winning streak, the second longest in state history (Calvary Christian, 60).
Eric Luksis, Sickles, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 30-2 record and the school’s first state championship, closing the season on a 22-game winning streak.
Mike Macey, Plantation American Heritage, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 21-6 record and the Class 5A state title, the school’s first championship since 2012.
Dale Hall, North Marion, Class 4A Coach of the Year
In his 21st year as North Marion’s head coach, Hall led his team to a 27-5 record and the school’s first state championship two years after a loss in the 2021 state title game.
Greg Olsen, Clearwater Calvary Christian, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 28-4 record and the Class 3A state title by defeating 2021-22 state champion North Broward Prep, 9-3, in the championship game.
Matt Diaz, Lakeland Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 25-5 record and the Class 2A state title, the school’s second state championship (2019).
Andy Compton, Chipley, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Compton, a Chipley alum in his 25th year as head coach, led his team to a 22-7 record and the school’s first state championship.