(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include games from this weekend.)

The Trenton baseball team is one step closer to a third straight trip to the final four.

On Friday night at Bryant Field, the No. 1 seed Tigers swept a doubleheader against No. 4 seed Dixie County (Cross City), 12-2 and 15-0, in an FHSAA Rural-Region 4 Semifinal.

The Tigers, who won the best-of-three series, 2-0, will host No. 3 seed Williston, which swept No. 2 seed Marathon on the road, in another best-of-three series (May 8-9) with a spot in the state semifinals in Fort Myers at stake.

Both games ended after just five innings due to the mercy-rule.

“The boys played good,” said Trenton coach Chris Marlo. “They came out ready to go. They swung the bats, one through nine. We had some pinch hitters in there that did really good, so yeah, my team played well.”

In the second game of the doubleheader, junior pitcher Mason VunCannon tossed a complete-game 2-hit shutout with no walks and seven strikeouts.

“I feel like he’s just peaking now,” Marlo said. “He’s been up to 87-88 (mph), kid’s got ice water in his veins. He’s a great kid. Every day he’s going to give me everything he’s got, whether it’s on the mound, in the field, on the plate.”

Trenton, which was the visiting team in game two, broke open a scoreless game with a 5-run fourth inning.

Sophomore third baseman Gabe Cobb (2-for-3, 2 RS, RBI) singled in a run, followed by a 2-RBI double by Jackson Lee (3-for-3, 2 DBL, 2 RS, 3 RBI), and an RBI double by freshman right fielder Ridge Hires (1-for-2, RS, RBI).

“Those guys, they’ve been working hard,” Marlo said. “Some of those guys aren’t everyday starters, but they train and practice every day like they are, so when they got their opportunity, they maximized it.”

They put the game away with a 10-run fifth inning, highlighted by junior first baseman Pierson Weatherilt’s second home run of the season. Trenton sent 13 batters to the plate and had nine of their 16 hits in the inning.

The Tigers (20-5) seized the momentum early with a double-digit win in the opening game.

Junior pitcher Brant Bivens (5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K) struck out the side in order in the top of the first inning.

Bivens (2-fo-4, 2 RS, 2 RBI) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to center field, stole second, and scored on a single by VunCannon (2-for-3, 2 RS, RBI), who played center field, for a 1-0 lead.

“He’s (Bivens) a big-time player,” Marlo said. “He always steps up in big games. That’s why we always roll with him. He’s a special kid. He’s a special player. He’s a dog.”

Following a double down the third base line by junior catcher Zane McArdle, Weatherilt (3-for-4, DBL, 2 RS, 4 RBI) doubled to right field to score VunCannon and courtesy runner Joniel Duran for a 4-0 lead.

Weatherhilt had a total of seven RBI in the two games.

“Every time he swings the bat it seems like he barrels the ball up,” Marlo said. “That’s why he’s in the 4-hole. You know, he’s going to get pitched, probably the toughest in the lineup, and he produces game after game.”

Trenton scored four runs on six hits in the inning as sophomore second baseman Logan Marlo (1-for-2) and junior third baseman Luke Hartenstein (3-for-3, RS) added singles.

It would be the only runs they needed, but they added three in the second inning, two in the third, and three in the fourth.

Junior Joel Lord had a pair of hits for the Bears, who finished the season at 13-13.

FHSAA Baseball regional playoffs

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)

Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3
(Regional Semifinals – All classes, best-of-three series)

Rural-Region 3 Semifinals
1 Union County (Lake Butler) 7, 4 Madison County 6
1 Union County (Lake Butler) 10, 4 Madison County 7 – Union County wins series 2-0

Rural-Region 4 Semifinals
1 Trenton 12, 4 Dixie County (Cross City) 2
1 Trenton 15, 4 Dixie County (Cross City) 0 – Trenton wins series 2-0
3 Williston 9, 2 Marathon 6
3 Williston 9, 2 Marathon 4 – Williston wins series 2-0

Class 1A-Region 2 Semifinals
2 Mount Dora Christian 11, 3 Saint Francis Catholic Academy 8
2 Mount Dora Christian 17, 3 Saint Francis Catholic Academy 3 – MDC wins series 2-0

Class 3A-Region 1 Semifinals
3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 12, 2 Fernandina Beach 0
2 Fernandina Beach 4, 3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 3
3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 5, 2 Fernandina Beach 1 – Suwannee wins series 2-1

Class 6A-Region 1 Semifinals
2 Buchholz 5, 6 Oakleaf (Orange Park) 3
2 Buchholz 7, 6 Oakleaf (Orange Park) 1 – Buchholz wins series 2-0