Mike Ridaught
The high school basketball season officially ended on Saturday, March 2, following the Hawthorne girls and Williston boys state championships.
We immediately turned our attention to our softball and baseball broadcast coverage on Thursday, March 7, as Gainesville High defeated Trenton in a battle of unbeaten teams.
A total of 30 strikeouts highlighted the game, which GHS won 2-0 to improve to 9-0. The Hurricanes have already surpassed the total number of wins they had from all of last year (six).
We also broadcast the Oak Hall at GHS baseball game this past Friday. In 2023 the two teams played two one-run games, including a nine-inning game at GHS, which the Hurricanes won, 4-3.
This past Friday during our second broadcast of the year, GHS defeated Oak Hall in nine innings again, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the last inning to walk off with a 5-4 victory.
With Alachua County on spring break this week, our coverage will resume next Friday, March 22, as the GHS softball team hosts Santa Fe (Alachua) in an Alachua County showdown.
Gainesville won the first meeting, 4-0, in the season opener for both teams.
Freshman Leanna Bourdage, who struck out 13 batters against Trenton last Thursday, tossed a complete-game two-hitter against the Raiders with only one walk and 15 strikeouts.
Santa Fe (7-2) has won seven of its last eight games since.
Here are the remaining 10 regular season games that we will be broadcasting following next week’s softball game. All games will be streamed online (audio only) at Mainstreet Daily News.
Monday, March 25 – P.K. Yonge at Oak Hall, 4:15 p.m.
Despite a 19-8 record a season ago, the Blue Wave failed to make the Class 3A state playoffs. P.K. Yonge defeated Keystone Heights, 8-6, in the 3A-District 4 semifinals but their season ended with a 10-0 loss to Trinity Catholic (Ocala) in the district championship game.
“This is a veteran team (10 seniors) capable of getting deep into postseason play,” said P.K. Yonge coach Rob Brunson. “As always, how successful we become will depend on avoiding injuries and if our pitching depth keeps improving.”
The Blue Wave are off to a 5-0 start, while the Eagles (4-2) are seeking a return trip to the Class 2A state playoffs.
Tuesday, March 26 – Trenton at Gainesville, 7 p.m.
Trenton (2-5) is off to a slow start under first-year coach Chris Marlo, but last year the Tigers finished 19-8 and advanced to the 1A state playoffs.
Trenton has won three of the last four against GHS (3-3) since 2007. Last year the Tigers won a pitcher’s duel, 1-0, on March 28 in the only meeting between the two teams in 2023.
Thursday, March 28 – Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) at Buchholz, 6 p.m.
The visiting Conquerors (5-1) are loaded with D-I commits, including the University of Florida verbal’s Brady Harris (Florida), Ethan Wheeler (4-1, 1.47 ERA, 44 K) and Aiden Arnett (Florida). But the talent doesn’t stop there as Brayden Harris (FSU), Aaron Watson (Virginia), Merrick Beamish (UCF) and Gage Petrutz (Maryland) are headed to the college ranks.
Buchholz (3-2) has its own D-I talent in catcher Noah Hayse (UCF), P/1B Anthony Wilkie (Clemson), SS Cooper Collins (Davidson) and P/RF J.J. Gardner (Jacksonville). The Class 6A Bobcats were within a game of advancing to their first final four last year.
Tuesday, April 2 – Columbia (Lake City) at Buchholz, 7 p.m.
The visiting Tigers (3-4) are coming off back-to-back Class 5A final four appearances. They’ve already played a tough schedule which includes two games against Valdosta (GA), defending 4A state champion North Marion (Citra) and 2A state runner-up St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park), which beat the Tigers and the Bobcats this season by one run, with the latter being in eight innings in the season opener for both teams.
Both of Buchholz’s losses this season have been in extra innings, including a 3-2 loss at Chiles this past Friday. The Bobcats have wins against 6A regional quarterfinalist Fleming Island (Orange Park) and defending champ North Marion.
This series has been back and forth the past seven years with both teams going 5-5 against each other. However, Columbia won both meetings last year, 10-0 and 7-6.
Friday, April 5 – GHS at Trenton, 7 p.m. (Softball)
This will be a rematch of last Thursday’s game at GHS.
Last year, the Tigers advanced to the 1A state playoffs despite having no seniors. They finished the season with a record of 16-9.
The Tigers have now lost two in a row in the series after winning five straight from 2018-2022.
Monday, April 8 – GHS at Oak Hall, 4:15 p.m.
This has developed into a bit of a rivalry lately.
This will be a rematch of last Friday’s game at GHS. The host Eagles were two outs away from beating the Hurricanes in regulation and led by one heading into the bottom of the ninth.
GHS improved to 6-1 against Oak Hall since 2007 but the last three games have been decided by one run. OHS edged GHS, 8-7, at home last February after scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Thursday, April 11 – GHS at Buchholz, 7 p.m.
This will be the first of two meetings between the Hurricanes and the Bobcats.
Buchholz has dominated the series as of late, winning the last nine in a row, including a 9-0 win at GHS last April. In fact, the Bobcats have outscored the ‘Canes, 73-18, during that stretch.
However, in last year’s game at Buchholz on April 21, GHS scored four runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Buchholz answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to win it 7-6.
The Hurricanes are seeking their first win in the series since a 7-1 win on April 21, 2017.
Thursday, April 18 – Keystone Heights at Santa Fe (Alachua), 6 p.m.
Keystone Heights narrowly missed the playoffs in 2023 with a record of 16-9. However, the Indians (6-1) are off to a good start in 2024, including six straight wins following a 7-3 loss at 5A regional finalist Clay (Green Cove Springs).
They beat defending 4A state champion North Marion (Citra) on the road and also beat 4A regional finalist Baker County (Glen St. Mary) at home. Plus, they defeated Santa Fe, 10-3, at home on Feb. 22.
“Ultimately, I think it’s going to take a little longer than in the past for this group to find an identity and for roles to become defined,” said Santa Fe coach Travis Yeckring, whose team started the season at 2-5. “Though young, this group is hungry for success. After we get some valuable experience throughout the regular season, I think we’re going to be a really tough out come April.”
Tuesday, April 23 – Forest (Ocala) at Buchholz, 6 p.m.
A Marion County vs. Alachua County showdown.
The visiting Wildcats (8-1) are rolling, outscoring their last two opponents, Gainesville and Vanguard (Ocala), by a combined score of 29-3.
Buchholz swept Forest last year, but the Wildcats swept the Bobcats in 2022.
Thursday, April 25 – GHS at Santa Fe (Alachua), 6 p.m.
This is the regular season finale for both teams.
GHS will host Santa Fe on March 20 with a chance to snap a long losing streak in the series. The Raiders have won the last eight games against the Hurricanes.