District Diamond Roundup: NFC baseball run rules FAMU DRS, books spot in title game

When Mike Posey took over the head coaching role for North Florida Christian baseball, a district championship seemed like a far-fetched dream.

But over the next three decades, NFC has turned into one of the juggernauts of Big Bend's baseball.

Posey has turned the program into a state championship contender year after year, and winners of plenty of district titles.

Beating FAMU DRS 10-0 on Tuesday night in the Class 2A District 1 semifinals, the Eagles cleared the first hurdle in the race for the program's fifth state title.

"That's the first step, to win a state championship you got to start with a district championship. So that's always a goal of ours," Posey said. "Every year we want to win our district. I remember when I first started it seemed like we would never win the district, took 12 years to get one."

"Now they know to win you got to start at step one and go through each step."

Scoring 10 runs in the first inning, NFC gave its four pitchers all the run support needed as the pitching rotation struck out 10, with Noah Miller and Caleb Tyre fanning four each. Freshman Jace Riggan led the team offensively with a 2-for-3 afternoon, recording two RBI.

NFC baseball leaning on senior experience, talented youth in postseason

Sitting at 16-6-2 and ranked as one of the top teams in Class 2A, ranked ninth by the FHSAA and eighth by MaxPreps, NFC has navigated a tricky schedule that Posey thinks will help prepare the team for the postseason.

Facing local programs like Chiles, Wakulla, Leon and Maclay while also facing powerhouse St. Johns County Day, NFC has played stiff competition this season.

The Eagles have 10 seniors on the roster and Posey leans on those players to help the young talent on the roster adjust to the postseason.

"We got some younger guys that haven't been there yet," Posey said on preparing for the postseason. "So it's good for them and they listen to those older guys who have the experience. Those tough games help you when playoffs come around."

Ashton Gainer is one of the 10 seniors on the roster, and he's been one of the Eagles' top contributors this season.

Hitting leadoff for NFC Gainer holds a .382 batting average, second on the team, and has recorded seven RBI while scoring 17 times.

The Tallahassee Community College commit says his confidence at the plate comes from the simple game plan the Eagles follow.

"We just try to keep it simple, hit hard ground balls and don't try to lift it out of the park," Gainer said. "We just need to stay in our game."

Gainer was a part of both NFC's 2022 State runner-up and the 2023 regional runner-up teams, and he feels this year's squad can do something special.

With a combination of experience and talented young players, Gainer thinks NFC can compete for a state title as long as the team continues to play the same way it has all season.

"We just need to stay within ourselves because we know we have a good enough team to win," Gainer said. "We don't need to get too excited or too amped up, we just need to stay within our team and be confident."

NFC will face St. John Paul II on Thursday, May 2 in the Class 2A District 1 title game.

Tuesday's district baseball, softball results

Scores will be updated as they become available

Baseball

1A District 5

Madison County 10, Wakulla Christian 0

Liberty County 8, Aucilla Christian 5

2A District 1

NFC 10, FAMU DRS 0

JPII 12, Rocky Bayou Christian 2

3A District 1

Pensacola Catholic 2, Maclay 0

4A District 2

Wakulla 4, Taylor County 0

5A District 2

Lincoln 10, Rickards 4

6A District 2

Chiles 3, Crestview 0

Mosely 2, Leon 1

Softball

1A District 5

Madison County 8, Hamilton County 7

Aucilla Christian 5, Hilliard 2

2A District 1

JPII 11, FAMU DRS 0

NFC 9, Maclay 2

3A District 2

Suwannee 3, Taylor County 2

Florida High 9, Marianna 2

4A District 1

Wakulla 3, South Walton 0

6A District 2

Niceville 5, Chiles 4

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: NFC baseball beat FAMU DRS, Tallahassee area baseball, softball results