Mike Ridaught
The high school softball and baseball regular seasons ended last week.
District tournaments get underway today, which means a new season begins for all teams with the start of postseason play.
And for teams who are playing on Monday and Tuesday, it’s ‘survive and advance,’ or put away the cleats until next season.
The Gainesville softball team is one of many teams who face that dilemma in this week’s 5A-District 2 tournament.
The No. 6 Lady Hurricanes (6-13) will play at 6:30 p.m. tonight at No. 3 seed Middleburg, the defending 5A state champion, needing to win three games this week to get into the regional tournament.
“Middleburg is the reigning state champions so they have a lot of playoff experience on their team,” said Gainesville coach Chris Chronister. “In order for us to win, we will need to get some runs on the scoreboard early and execute defensively at a high level.”
Despite a losing record, Chronister knows every team is 0-0.
“Exactly, it is a new season,” he said. “Records at this point don’t mean anything. We need to go on a three-game winning streak to win another district championship, and you can’t win three if you don’t win the first one, so we are really focused on Middleburg right now.”
Buchholz is in the same position.
The Bobcats (5-17) also struggled during the regular season but a 3-game winning streak this week changes everything.
“We are a very young team and the chemistry among the players has been phenomenal,” said Buchholz coach Will Hooper. “They all believe and support each other. We knew going into tonight it’s a new season and we are looking to surprise some teams.”
Tonight at 6 p.m. at Oakleaf (Orange Park), the No. 5 seed Bobcats will face No. 4 seed Fletcher (Neptune) in the district quarterfinals. The winner will face top-seed Oakleaf in Tuesday’s district semifinals.
Hooper said one of the keys to keeping their season alive will be to put together a complete game.
“For the most part, we have played pretty good softball for 3-4 innings every game,” he said. “We have improved defensively significantly from last year and pitching has been better than expected with a roster of no true pitchers. For us to compete in districts, we will have to hit more consistently as a team, especially with runners in scoring position.”
It’s also a must-win situation for the Hawthorne and Bronson softball teams.
Bronson, the No. 4 seed in 1A-District 7, will play No. 5 seed Newberry tonight at 6 p.m. in the district quarterfinals.
Despite losing three starters this season due to injury, the Eagles (11-8) are hopeful and taking tournament play one game at a time.
“We set the goal to go into the tournament as the No. 4 seed, we wanted to be the home team,” said Bronson coach John Miller. “We’re struggling (down three starters) but we’ve been able to put together some wins, which was really difficult for us. However, if we can overcome our bat problem, we’ll be alright against Newberry.”
Hawthorne, which defeated Bronson last Tuesday, is the No. 3 seed in 1A-District 8 and will play No. 2 seed Glades Day (Belle Glade) in Tuesday’s district semifinals.
The Hornets (11-8) are led by sophomore Madisyn Gillins (.531, 18 RBI) and juniors Synteria Williams (.481, 26 RBI) and Chole Feagle (.419). If they advance, they would likely face top-seed Williston in Thursday’s district championship game.
“We’re going to treat the game against Glades Day like it’s the district championship game, so we can make it to the actual district championship game,” said Hawthorne coach Lavar Williams. “The key is us continuing to build together, hitting the ball, and a solid defense with pitching.”
There is untapped potential in Lake Butler but Union County likes its chances in 1A-District 6 as the No. 3 seed.
The Tigers, who have struggled this year with a record of 5-13, will play No. 2 seed Fort White at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the district semifinals. The Indians (8-9) have also struggled, after making their first final four in program history last year before losing a heartbreaker in the state championship game.
The winner advances to the district championship game, likely against Branford, who swept the Tigers this year including a 7-6 win on April 20.
The Bucs, who are ranked second in the state in Class 1A by MaxPreps, also swept the Indians.
“If we can play a complete game, nobody in the district scares us,” said Union County coach Jim Godwin. “But we have yet to play that game this year.”
Meanwhile, the Gainesville baseball team is on the proverbial ‘bubble’ heading into the 5A-District 2 tournament.
First-year head coach Adrian Ramos assessed what 2023 has been like for him and his program.
“It’s been a year of laying out expectations, getting the seniors to help me lay that foundation on their way out so the freshmen that have just come in have a template for what success will look like and what Canes’ baseball is,” he said. “We’ve said it all year, C-A-N-E-S is play with confidence, accountability, no quit, energy and selflessness, and I feel like we’ve all kind of got that in our DNA at this point so hopefully it sticks.”
Despite a losing record, GHS (10-12) is currently eighth in 5A-Region 1, with the top eight teams receiving a regional tournament bid.
The Hurricanes, who defeated Class 1A No. 1 Lafayette (Mayo), 2-1, on Friday, will travel to Lincoln (Tallahassee) looking to keep their slim playoffs alive.
Lincoln (15-8) is ranked third in the FHSAA rankings, so win or lose it will help strengthen what has already been a tough schedule (8.63 strength of schedule) which includes a pair of games against top seed Columbia (Lake City), 6A Buchholz, and 4A North Marion (Citra), all of whom are currently ranked among the top 21 teams in Florida regardless of classification.
Ramos said the tough schedule should help his team on Tuesday.
“I told these boys, ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ and I think our schedule has been a testament to that,” Ramos said. “We’ve been in a lot of close ball games. I think we’ve surprised some people along the way and this week is just another game to do the same.”
We’ll have ‘live’ audio coverage of the Class 1A-District 7 semifinals at Trenton High School on Tuesday. You can listen to both games online at MainStreetDailyNews.com.
Newberry, which is the top seed, will play at 4 p.m. on Tuesday against the winner of Monday’s 4 Dixie County (Cross City)/5 Bell quarterfinal.
The Panthers (12-8) are ranked eighth in the state in Class 1A by MaxPreps.
“I believe we have had an up and down year but that is expected with such a young team,” said Newberry coach Mike Spina. “I feel like we have played a tough schedule to prepare my guys for districts and regionals. I believe my guys are up for the challenge.”
It’s a tough district that includes No. 2 seed Trenton, which is ranked seventh in 1A, and No. 3 seed Chiefland, which is ranked ninth in the state in 1A by MaxPreps, giving the district three top 10 teams.
Trenton will host Chiefland at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the other district semifinal.
“We did split with both teams (Chiefland and Trenton),” Spina said. “The team that makes the fewer mistakes will come out on top. I believe my guys have been challenged with tough teams and we have faced some real quality pitching. We look forward to getting on the diamond this week.”
FHSAA Softball – District tournaments
Class 1A-District 6 at Branford
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Bell vs. 5 Lafayette (Mayo), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
2 Fort White vs. 3 Union County (Lake Butler), 5 p.m.
1 Branford vs. Bell/Lafayette winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 7 at Trenton
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Bronson vs. 5 Newberry, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
1 Dixie County (Cross City) vs. Bronson/Newberry winner, 5 p.m.
2 Trenton vs. 3 Chiefland, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 8 at Williston
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
3 Hawthorne vs. 2 Glades Day (Belle Glade), 5 p.m.
1 Williston vs. 4 Wildwood, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 2A-District 4 at St. Francis Catholic Academy
Monday, May 1 – Semifinals
3 St. Francis Catholic Academy vs. 2 Father Lopez (Daytona Beach), 1 p.m.
4 Countryside Christian vs. 1 Peniel Baptist Academy (Palatka), 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3 – Championship, 4 p.m.
Class 3A-District 2 at Higher Seed
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
5 Gadsden County (Havana) at 4 Taylor County (Perry), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
3 Suwannee (Live Oak) at 2 Marianna, 6 p.m.
Taylor County/Gadsden County winner at 1 Florida High (Tallahassee), 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 3A-District 3 at Keystone Heights
Monday, May 1
5 Bradford (Starke) vs. 4 Interlachen, 3 p.m.
2 Palatka vs. 7 Crescent City, 5 p.m.
3 Keystone Heights vs. 6 Beachside (St. Johns), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2
Palatka/Crescent City winner vs. Keystone Heights/Beachside winner, 5 p.m.
Bradford/Interlachen winner vs. 1 Taylor (Pierson), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 6 p.m.
Class 3A-District 5 at Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 P.K. Yonge vs. 5 Eastside, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
1 Santa Fe (Alachua) vs. P.K. Yonge/Eastside winner, 7 p.m.
2 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) vs. 3 Dunnellon
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 5A-District 2 at Middleburg
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Orange Park vs. 5 Lincoln (Tallahassee), 4:30 p.m.
6 Gainesville vs. 3 Middleburg, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
2 Columbia (Lake City) vs. Gainesville/Middleburg winner, 5 p.m.
1 Ridgeview (Orange Park) vs. Orange Park/Lincoln winner, 7 p.m.
Class 6A-District 3 at Oakleaf (Orange Park)
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
5 Buchholz vs. 4 Fletcher (Neptune Beach), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
3 Nease (Ponte Vedra) vs. 2 First Coast (Jacksonville), 5:30 p.m.
Buchholz/Fletcher winner vs. 1 Oakleaf, 7:30 p.m.
FHSAA Baseball – district tournaments
Class 1A-District 6 at Branford
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
6 Fort White vs. 3 Hamilton County (Jasper), 4 p.m.
5 Branford vs. 4 Hilliard, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
Fort White/Hamilton County winner vs. 2 Union County (Lake Butler), 4 p.m.
Branford/Hilliard winner vs. 1 Lafayette (Mayo), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 7 at Trenton
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Dixie County (Cross City) vs. 5 Bell, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals (Both semifinal games will be broadcast online (audio only) at MainStreetDailyNews.com)
1 Newberry vs. Bell/Dixie County winner, 4 p.m.
2 Trenton vs. 3 Chiefland, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 8 at Higher Seed (Championship at Wildwood)
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Wildwood vs. 5 Pahokee, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
2 Williston vs. 3 Bronson, 7 p.m.
1 Glades Day (Belle Glade) vs. Wildwood/Pahokee winner, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 2A-District 4 at St. Francis Catholic Academy
Monday, May 1 – Semifinals
2 St. Francis Catholic Academy vs. 3 Countryside Christian, 1 p.m.
1 Oak Hall vs. 4 Peniel Baptist Academy (Palatka), 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3 – Championship, 4 p.m.
Class 3A-District 2 at Higher Seed
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
5 Bradford (Starke) vs. 4 Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
Bradford/Bishop Snyder winner vs. 1 Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville), 7 p.m.
2 Baldwin vs. 3 West Nassau (Callahan), 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 3A-District 4 at Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) vs. 5 Taylor (Pierson), 1 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Quarterfinals
3 P.K. Yonge vs. 6 Interlachen, 4 p.m.
2 Keystone Heights vs. 7 Crescent City, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3 – Semifinals
P.K. Yonge/Interlachen winner vs. Keystone Heights/Crescent City winner, 4 p.m.
1 Trinity Catholic vs. Father Lopez/Taylor winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 6:30 p.m.
Class 4A-District 2 at Higher seeds
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
3 Suwannee (Live Oak) vs. 6 Gadsden County (Havana), 7 p.m.
4 Taylor County (Perry) vs. 5 Godby (Tallahassee), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
1 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) vs. Taylor County/Godby winner, 7 p.m.
2 Wakulla (Crawfordville) vs. Suwannee/Gadsden County winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 4A-District 4 at Higher Seeds
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Eastside vs. 5 Palatka, 7 p.m.
3 Menendez (St. Augustine) vs. Beachside (St. Johns), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
1 Santa Fe (Alachua) vs. Eastside/Palatka winner, 7 p.m.
2 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) vs. Menendez/Beachside winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 5A-District 2 at Higher Seeds
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
1 Columbia (Lake City) vs. 4 Rickards (Tallahassee), 7 p.m.
3 Gainesville vs. 2 Lincoln (Tallahassee), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3 – Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 6A-District 3 at Fletcher (Neptune Beach)
Monday, May 1 – Quarterfinals
4 Nease (Ponte Vedra) vs. 5 Fletcher (Neptune Beach), 4 p.m.
3 Oakleaf (Orange Park) vs. 6 First Coast (Jacksonville), 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 – Semifinals
2 Fleming Island (Orange Park) vs. Oakleaf/First Coast winner, 5 p.m.
1 Buchholz vs. Nease/Fletcher winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 4 – Championship, 7 p.m.