Santa Fe, GHS softball top big school All Area team

Gainesville's Braylin Cook (left) and Santa Fe's Amy Crosby were selected to the 2024 Bosshardt Realty Big School All Area Softball Team.
Gainesville's Braylin Cook (left) and Santa Fe's Amy Crosby were selected to the 2024 Bosshardt Realty Big School All Area Baseball Team.
Graphic by Seth Johnson/Photos by C.J. Gish

Editor’s Note: This is the third of five stories unveiling the 2024 Bosshardt Realty All Area Softball and Baseball Teams. Click here to read about the Small School Softball Team and Small School Baseball Team.

It was a good year overall for big school softball teams.

Gainesville High advanced to its first state championship game appearance in eight years, and Santa Fe (Alachua) finished one game shy of a final four appearance.

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The Hurricanes and the Raiders dominated the 2024 Bosshardt Realty Big School All Area Softball Team claiming seven of the 11 positions.

P.K. Yonge's Emma Mansfield led the team with a .613 batting average on 38 hits with 46 runs, 25 RBI, 15 doubles, three triples and four home runs. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish P.K. Yonge’s Emma Mansfield led the team with a .613 batting average on 38 hits with 46 runs, 25 RBI, 15 doubles, three triples and four home runs.

Santa Fe, which lost at Montverde Academy, 3-0, in the 3A-Region 2 Final, led the way with four selections.

Infielder Gracie Mattson was selected after batting .494 with a team-high seven triples.

The junior was also second on the Raiders (23-5) with 36 runs scored, 37 runs batted in and a .775 slugging percentage.

“Gracie is a very solid player and made some great plays for us at third base all year long,” said Santa Fe coach Gene Findley. “She was also very solid at the plate with an OBP of 0.534 as she was our No. 2 batter to help with our team’s success.”

Junior Emma Mansfield of P.K. Yonge joins Mattson in the infield.

Mansfield led the Lady Blue Wave (14-13) with a .613 average and a .724 on base percentage.

Buchholz's Juliana Abraham led the Bobcats with a .481 batting average on 39 hits with 34 RBI, 10 doubles and four home runs.
Photo by C.J. Gish Buchholz’s Juliana Abraham led the Bobcats with a .481 batting average on 39 hits with 34 RBI, 10 doubles and four home runs.

She also had a team-leading 15 doubles, 46 RS, four home runs and a 1.145 SLG%.

“Emma was a key contributor, not only with her offensive performance but her adaptability on defense,” said P.K. Yonge coach Daryl Mosley. “She is very talented but extremely humble. Her success both on and off the field is due to her strong determination to succeed, her fierce work ethic and her unwavering passion.”

Juliana Abraham of Buchholz also made the All Area team as an infielder.

The junior led the Bobcats (11-15) with a .481 average and a .580 OBP.

She had a team-leading 39 hits, 34 RBI, 10 doubles and a .753 SLG%.

“Juliana ‘Bear’ Abraham has been great for us all year, especially offensively, where she has led our team for the second year in almost every offensive statistical category,” said Buchholz coach Will Hooper. “As one of our team captains, she is constantly trying to find ways to not only improve herself, but her teammates as well. She has really accepted the leader role and is very supportive of her teammates. We are looking forward to her senior season as the leader of the Bobcats.”

(From left) Gainesville's Makenna O'Sullivan, Braylin Cook and Leanna Bourdage were selected to the Bosshardt Realty Big School All Area Softball team.
Photo by C.J. Gish (From left) Gainesville’s McKenna O’Sullivan, Braylin Cook and Leanna Bourdage were selected to the Bosshardt Realty Big School All Area Softball team.

Gainesville’s McKenna O’Sullivan joined the team as an infielder, along with GHS catcher Braylin Cook.

The duo were key components of Gainesville’s district and regional titles, and a Class 5A state runner-up finish.

O’Sullivan, who transferred from Columbia (Lake City), batted for .404 for GHS (24-5) and was second behind Cook (.432).

The junior was third with a .468 OBP, a .574 SLG%, and 26 RS, and she was second with 10 doubles and 35 RBI.

Santa Fe's J'lyn Guyden hit .552 on 48 hits with 49 RBI, 30 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs and a perfect fielding percentage.
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s J’lyn Guyden hit .552 on 48 hits with 49 RBI, 30 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs and a perfect fielding percentage.

“McKenna was a shut-down third basemen for us and she played a pivotal role in the success of our offense batting over .400 and only striking out one time all season,” said Gainesville coach Chris Chronister.

Cook, who hit three home runs against Columbia in the district semifinals, led the ‘Canes with 12 home runs, 11 doubles, two triples, 43 RBI, a .540 OBP, a 1.061 SLG%, and a .975 fielding percentage.

“Braylin was impressive all season, but she really rose to the occasion when district playoffs started by hitting five home runs in our first three playoff games,” Chronister said. “She also provided excellent play behind the plate.”

Santa Fe also had a pair of outfielders named All Area.

College of Central Florida signee Amy Crosby had a big year for the Raiders, finishing with a .521 average and she led the team with four HRs, 30 SB, 46 RS and 49 hits.

“Amy did a great job for us as leadoff batter,” Findley said. “She is a gamer and had 30 stolen bases. She was a big part of this team’s success.”

Bradford's Rylie Blankenship hit .494 on 38 hits with 28 stolen bases and 24 runs.
Photo by C.J. Gish Bradford’s Rylie Blankenship hit .494 on 38 hits with 28 stolen bases and 24 runs.

J’lyn Guyden also had a big year for Santa Fe, which had five players bat .492 or better.

She was second on the team with a .552 average, and she led the team with 11 doubles, a .602 OBP, 49 RBI and a .793 SLG%.

The junior also played error-free ball, with no errors in 28 games played.

“J’Lyn played a rock-solid center field for us this year as well at the plate,” Findley said. “She was our No. 4 batter with 49 RBI. She was another major contributor to this team’s success.”

The final member of the outfield is Rylie Blankenship of Bradford (Starke).

The senior led the Tornadoes with a .494 average, .565 OBP, 28 SB, 24 RS, and 38 hits.

Columbia’s Harleigh Price made the team as a utility player, after leading the Tigers (13-12) to a Class 5A playoff appearance with a team-leading .460 average.

The freshman also led the team with a .553 OBP, and a .777 SLG%. She was second on her team with 29 hits, and 15 RBI.

Price had a 2.33 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.

Gainesville freshman Leanna Bourdage led all players in the area in the circle.

Columbia's Harleigh Price hit .460 for the Tigers with 29 hits, 15 RBI, 15 runs and
Photo by C.J. Gish Columbia’s Harleigh Price hit .460 for the Tigers with 29 hits, 15 RBI, 15 runs and had a 2.33 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.

Bourdage, runner-up for the Class 5A Player of the Year, finished 19-4 with a 0.57 ERA. She had 251 strikeouts and only 49 walks in 136 innings pitched. She also batted .386 with 7 HR’s.

She threw a no-hitter and struck out 18 batters in the 5A-District 2 championship game against Middleburg.

“Leanna is a competitor,” Chronister said. “From our first practice to the state championship game she always gave maximum effort. Her contributions to the team at the plate and especially in the circle were an integral part of our team’s success this year.”

The other pitcher was Santa Fe’s Sarah Burns.

The sophomore was 8-1 with a 1.44 ERA in 17 appearances.

She had five complete games, three shutouts, and had 114 strikeouts in 87.1 innings pitched.

“Sarah keeps her composure on the mound very good which is huge, and she doesn’t walk many batters,” Findley said. “She is a competitor and did a great job on the mound for us. Her pitching performances and composure on the mound helped lead us to our team’s success this year.”

Big School Softball

C – Braylin Cook, GHS (JR)

INF – Gracie Mattson, Santa Fe (Alachua) (JR)

INF – McKenna O’Sullivan, GHS (JR)

INF – Juliana Abraham, Buchholz (JR)

INF – Emma Mansfield, P.K. Yonge (JR)

OF – J’lyn Guyden, Santa Fe (Alachua) (JR)

OF – Rylie Blankenship, Bradford (Starke) (SR)

OF – Amy Crosby, Santa Fe (Alachua) (SR)

Utility – Harleigh Price, Columbia (Lake City) (FR)

P – Leanna Bourdage, GHS (FR)

P – Sarah Burns, Santa Fe (Alachua) (SO)

Bradford (Starke) – Madison Highland (Sr.), Amber Wynn (Jr.), Keegan Yowell (So.), Addyson Hinds (So.)

Buchholz – Amelia Collins (Sr.), Emily Sorah (Jr.), Jayda Cooper (Jr.), Kylee Wilson (Jr.), Madison Blackford (So.), Jordyn Cooper (Fr.)

Columbia (Lake City) – Kimber Long (Jr.), Sakiya Merriex (Jr.), Luisa Taylor (So.), Anna Dansby (So.), Josie Raulerson (Fr.)

Eastside – Ste’keriyonna Johnson (So.)

Gainesville – Elise Knopf (Sr.), Josie Kirwan (Jr.), Rihanna Williams (Jr.), Roxanne Walsh (So.), Adriana Koralewski (So.)

Keystone Heights – Alaina Kinsall (Sr.), Abbie Roach (Sr.), Caitlin Frampton (Sr.), Delia Johnson (Sr.), Ashley Nugent (Sr.), Kadence Massey (So.), Amber Wagner (So.)

P.K. Yonge – Alison Sanetz (Jr.), Mickinzi Anderson (Jr.), Brianna Garrison (Jr.), Jessica Bain (Jr.), Sydney Corona (So.)

Santa Fe (Alachua) – Breleigh Ford (Jr.), Madolyn Jablonski (Jr.), Madisen Crosby (So.), Montana Moen (So.), Maren Hornsby (Fr.), Ainslea Kelsoe (Fr.)

Suwannee (Live Oak) – Hailey Law (Sr.), Rachel Smith (Sr.), Gracie Watley (So.), Brianna Woods (So.), Felicity May (Fr.), Maylee Gabey (Fr.)

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