Suzette Cook
An escort by Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies and fans lining the streets will be the sendoff for the Newberry Panthers baseball team at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The Class 1A-District 7 champions defeated district runner-up Williston last week in the FHSAA regional finals and have advanced to their first state semifinal in more than 40 years.
Newberry will play Hamilton County in the Class 1A state semifinals on Wednesday at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
Mayor and Newberry High School history teacher Jordan Marlowe wants the whole town to send off the team in style.
“Alright folks, if you haven’t heard, our Newberry Panther Baseball team is heading to the Final Four to play for the State Championship!,” Marlowe wrote on his official Facebook page Monday, along with a map that shows the route they will take out of town.
“They are leaving tomorrow, the 18th, at 3 p.m. from our baseball field. Let’s line the streets and send them off with all of our hopes for a State Title!” Marlowe wrote. “Alachua County Sheriff’s office will escort our boys out of town, and we would love to see the whole town waving them on to victory! So, if you can, gather in front of NES, Oak View Middle School, or at the light, and get loud as they go by!”
Marlowe closed with the hashtag #NewberryProud.