Mike Ridaught
We are winding down the 2021-22 high school sports seasons.
There are just two full months of prep sports remaining, and even less for some sports.
The FHSAA Boys Weightlifting state championships are actually this month (April 21-23), while tennis concludes the week after that (April 25-29).
The final high school state championships this year will be the FHSAA Softball state championships (May 24-28). For some reason, softball ends after the baseball finals (May 18-21 and May 23-25) in 2022.
The lacrosse postseason begins in a little over a week and will end in early May (5-7), followed by track & field the week after that (May 11-14).
This year’s FHSAA track & field state championships will be held on the campus of the University of Florida at Percy Beard Track in Gainesville.
April has arrived and things are starting to heat up.
There’s plenty to look forward to this month, including our weekly softball and baseball broadcasts at Mainstreet Daily News.
A minimum of 10 games will be broadcast online (audio streams) in the month of April. Check out the full schedule below.
Up next for our ‘live’ play-by-play broadcasts is on Monday, April 4, at 7 p.m., as Class 1A No. 1 Union County softball travels to Gainesville, which just beat rival Santa Fe. Join me and Marty Pallman for the broadcast beginning at 6:50 p.m.
We’ll also have a small school baseball showdown on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. between rivals St. Francis Catholic Academy and Oak Hall School. Pallman and Matt Quartararo will have the call at 4:05 p.m.
Also on Wednesday, the hottest baseball team in the area will be our guests on “The Prep Zone” sports show from 7 to 8 p.m. on 106.9 FM “I am Country.”
Head coach Travis Yeckring and members of the Santa Fe High School baseball team will talk about the Raiders’ 10-1 start, which includes a 10-game winning streak heading into tonight’s game at West Nassau (Callahan).
But we begin our coverage for the month of April with a bang as we announce our Mainstreet Daily News All Area basketball teams. Earlier this year we announced our second annual All Area football teams.
On Monday, April 4, we’ll release the Mainstreet Daily News Small School All Area girls basketball first and second teams, followed by the girls basketball Big School All Area teams on Tuesday, small school boys on Wednesday, big school boys on Thursday, and our coaches of the year on Friday.
A panel of local sportswriters and coaches chose the All Area teams from Mainstreet’s eight-county coverage area. All 44 players and coaches will receive commemorative plaques to recognize their accomplishments.
Thanks to Smith Law Firm and Smith Asset Management Company for their support and sponsorship.
Oh, and there’s kind of some big basketball games this weekend and Monday. I’ll try and work those in to our busy schedule.
April should be a lot of fun, no fooling.
Have a great weekend!
2022 April broadcast schedule – www.MainStreetDailyNews.com
Audio broadcasts
SOFTBALL – Monday, April 4 – Union County (Lake Butler) at Gainesville, 7 p.m.
BASEBALL – Tuesday, April 5 – Buchholz at North Marion, 6:30 p.m.
BASEBALL – Wednesday, April 6 – St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville) at Oak Hall (Gainesville), 4:15 p.m.
BASEBALL – Thursday, April 14 – Gainesville at Buchholz, 7 p.m.
BASEBALL – Friday, April 15 – Buchholz at Gainesville, 7 p.m.
BASEBALL – Monday, April 18 – Union County (Lake Butler) at Oak Hall, 4:15 p.m.
BASEBALL – Tuesday, April 19 – Columbia (Lake City) at Buchholz (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
BASEBALL – Thursday, April 21 – Bishop Verot (Fort Myers) at Buchholz (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
BASEBALL – Monday, April 25 – Oak Hall at Trenton, 6 p.m.
BASEBALL – Tuesday, April 26 – North Marion at Gainesville, 6 p.m.
Radio
Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” sports show on 106.9 FM “I am Country” – featuring local high school coaches and players at Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville
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