Jacksonville

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has officially launched the high school baseball regional playoffs for Classes 5A through 7A in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. The playoff series operates under a best-of-3 format, with initial games hosted by the top-seeded team, while any necessary third game will take place at the visitor’s field. Scheduled game times are set for 7 p.m. on April 23, April 24, and April 26, barring any changes.

Region 1-7A Highlights

The first match-up features the Gateway Conference champion Stingrays facing off against the Hawks. The Hawks are led by Florida Atlantic commit Garrett Grant, boasting an impressive record of 10-0, with a 0.72 ERA and 73 strikeouts this season. The Stingrays’ standout players include Wade Surber and Dalton Tibbetts, who have shown excellence in both batting and pitching.

Creekside has a tough challenge ahead as they encounter strong pitching from Gavin Duprey, Nick Romeu, and Matthew Bysheim, along with a notable hitter in Connor Balazic. The team will need to focus on containing Timber Creek seniors Elijah Buffaloe and Sebastian Hurtado, both committed to the University of Central Florida.

Region 1-6A Developments

A doubleheader in this region is scheduled for April 23 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Bucs are counting on Hayden Carns, who has a record of 5-2 and a 1.09 ERA to take the mound against the strong lineup of Buchholz, which includes future JU Dolphins JJ Gardner and Aiden Kastensmidt.

Fletcher’s Kyle Johnson has recently made headlines by throwing a no-hitter, as the team prepares to travel to Tate, where Taite Davis and Nathan Ozuna headline the team’s batting. The Toros, on the other hand, are equipped with clutch hitters Mikey Bergamo and Ayden Ramos, known for their speed on the bases, averaging more than three stolen bases per game. Additionally, East River’s Ty Kennedy has been a standout with a .500 batting average, seven doubles, five triples, and 28 RBIs. The victorious team will advance to play against either Oviedo or Pace.

Region 1-5A Insights

Game 2 is slated for 4 p.m. on April 24. Ayden Phillips, who is among Northeast Florida’s premier two-way players with a .364 batting average, leads the Mosley team, supported by promising sophomores like Xavier Demro, who holds a .343 average. Should Ponte Vedra emerge victorious, they will face either Tallahassee Chiles or Gulf Breeze. Ponte Vedra has seen recent successes with five wins out of their last six games, with Nate Dietz demonstrating remarkable control on the mound, recording 35 strikeouts and eight walks.

Game Updates and Results

As the playoffs progress, several games have concluded with exciting outcomes: in Region 1-7A, Creekside suffered a defeat against the Hawks, who tallied a five-run third inning accentuated by a three-run home run from Lamar Edwards. Garrett Grant delivered an impressive performance, striking out 12 batters, limiting Creekside to only one RBI from Connor Balazic.

Region 1-6A saw Pace dominate the competition with a staggering 24-0 win over the Toros, capped off by Bryce Hatton’s three-run homer for the Patriots. Meanwhile, Niceville eliminated their opponents with a thrilling walk-off grand slam from Jackson Marquardt in Region 1-5A. Gabe Garcia pitched a stellar two-hit shutout for Suwannee, allowing them to advance against South Walton in Region 1-3A, while Lakota Johnson led Bozeman to a shutout victory in Region 1-2A with an RBI double. In Region 1-1A, UC advanced after a commanding eight-run first inning.

Upcoming Matches and Streaming

The Episcopal School of Jacksonville is set to compete against Trinity Christian High School on May 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Fans and supporters can catch all playoff games live via the NFHS Network, which also offers on-demand replays and game highlights.

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