Districts on deck: Teams, players and storylines for FHSAA district baseball tournaments
The Florida High School Athletic Association begins baseball district tournaments Monday. Schedules are as listed by the FHSAA but are subject to change. The updated schedules online include several changes from those originally released by the FHSAA.
District 1-7A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Sandalwood at FPC, 6:30 p.m.; Mandarin at Atlantic Coast, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Sandalwood-FPC winner at Creekside, 6:30 p.m.; Mandarin-Atlantic Coast winner at Bartram Trail, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6:30 p.m.
Region rankings: Creekside (3), Bartram Trail (5), Atlantic Coast (8), Flagler Palm Coast (11), Sandalwood (14), Mandarin (15)
Top seed: Creekside. Matthew Bysheim and Gavin Duprey are just two of the leaders on a strong and deep pitching staff for the Knights, with a half-dozen effective options on the mound. Sean Ashenfelder, committed to Rutgers for football, and Carson McFarlin stand out in the batting order.
Area bubble team: Atlantic Coast. The Gateway Conference champions have climbed upward in the ranking but likely can't afford a one-and-done week. Chris Gant, Noah Prudencio and Wade Surber are coming off All-Gateway honors last week.
Player to watch: Dominic Cantona, Bartram Trail. Expect recruiting interest to build quickly for the versatile sophomore, who is batting .492 with a 1.214 OPS and can line up in multiple positions.
Baseball stats leaders: Northeast Florida's top high school baseball performers
District 3-6A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Fletcher at Fleming Island, 6:30 p.m.; Nease at Gainesville Buchholz, 7 p.m.; First Coast at Oakleaf, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Fletcher-Fleming Island winner at Tocoi Creek, 7 p.m.; First Coast-Oakleaf winner vs. Nease-Buchholz winner, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Tocoi Creek (3), Gainesville Buchholz (5), Oakleaf (6), Fleming Island (7), Fletcher (11), First Coast (13), Nease (19)
Top seed: Tocoi Creek. It's been a meteoric rise for the Toros, who won 14 straight at one stage. Brayden Harris (6-1, 1.55), Carson Zepp (4-0, 1.31) and Jack Svendsen (3-2, 2.69) lead a strong pitching unit, and Andy Lemaster and Chase Pate shine at the plate.
Area bubble team: Fleming Island. With Winter Springs, Oviedo and Gulf Breeze close behind, there's no time to relax for the Golden Eagles as well as Oakleaf. Sophomore Chris Reali (3-1, 1.14, .958 OPS) has emerged as a multiple threat for Fleming Island.
Player to watch: Hunter Carns, First Coast. The Bucs need an outright district championship to keep their year going, but as long as the Florida State-signed catcher is swinging the bat, they've got a chance. Batting .391 with six homers and a 1.338 OPS, Carns helped First Coast to a similar surprise district trophy in 2022.
District 2-5A
At Tallahassee Rickards
Schedule: Tuesday, Tallahassee Lincoln vs. Tallahassee Rickards, 7 p.m.; Columbia vs. Gainesville, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Tallahassee Lincoln (1), Columbia (3), Gainesville (13), Tallahassee Rickards (16)
Top seed: Tallahassee Lincoln. The Trojans have taken on a brutal schedule and include one of Florida's best in Myles Bailey (.300, 3 HR, 1.061 OPS), a Florida State commit who could get selected in this summer's MLB Draft.
Area bubble team: None. Columbia is safe regardless of this week's results.
Player to watch: Ayden Phillips, Columbia. A devastating dual threat this year, Phillips bats .478 with six doubles and six homers, plus 61 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings as a pitcher.
District 3-5A
At higher seed
Schedule: Tuesday, Middleburg at Clay, 4 p.m.; Orange Park at Ridgeview, 4 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Clay (2), Ridgeview (10), Orange Park (12), Middleburg (15)
Top seed: Clay. They've struggled at the plate (.237 batting average) but pitching has been superb, led by Preston Andrews (5-0, 0.99 ERA) and Jacksonville University commit Easton McMahan (1-2, 3.00 ERA).
Area bubble team: Ridgeview. Bubble status might be generous for the Panthers, who must make up two ranking points while overtaking Beachside and Fort Walton Beach. But pitching has been durable, with Keegan Roach and Tommy Glasspoole combining for more than 90 innings.
Player to watch: Tyson Cruz, Orange Park. He's hitting for both contact and power, batting at a .426 clip with six doubles, a home run and 21 RBI.
District 4-5A
Late rounds at Beachside
Schedule: Monday, Riverside at Beachside, 6:30 p.m.; Parker at Ponte Vedra, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Parker-Ponte Vedra winner at Englewood, 4 p.m.; Riverside-Beachside winner vs. St. Augustine, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6:30 p.m.
Region rankings: St. Augustine (5), Englewood (6), Ponte Vedra (7), Beachside (9), Riverside (17), Parker (18)
Top seed: St. Augustine. A year of big-time improvement for the Jackets. Ryan Hansen (.338, 7 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR) is an all-around extra-base threat, Maddux Dowler is batting .415 and Cooper Kiker is coming off a 12-strikeout no-hitter against Menendez.
Area bubble team: Ponte Vedra. In reality, this district is so tight that there are several bubble teams depending on results elsewhere. Senior Cade Eidam (.431) leads a lineup that's picked up the pace down the stretch, winning three straight.
Player to watch: Dominick Patruno, Englewood. Just look at those numbers for the junior catcher: a .538 average, 10 doubles and a 1.422 OPS. Anthony Brown and Ethan Anderson are also top contributors for the Gateway Conference runners-up.
District 2-4A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Gadsden County at Baker County, 5 p.m.; Tallahassee Godby at Taylor County, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Godby-Taylor County winner at Wakulla, 7 p.m.; Gadsden County-Baker County winner at Suwannee, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Wakulla (3), Suwannee (4), Baker County (8), Taylor County (11), Tallahassee Godby (13), Gadsden County (22)
Top seed: Wakulla. A team with long-ball punch, the War Eagles go deep early and often with Haden Klees (.397, 9 2B, 3 HR) and Josiah Pierini (.368, 6 HR, 29 RBI).
Area bubble team: Baker County. The Wildcats appear to be locked into a battle with Yulee for the last at-large spot and need at least one win, maybe two or more. They've got one of the area's top pitchers in Colson Altman (5-2, 0.74 ERA, 96 K in 56 2/3 innings).
Player to watch: Jace Moran, Suwannee. The Bulldogs' top extra-base threat is hitting .310 with nine doubles.
District 3-4A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Westside at Bishop Kenny, 6:30 p.m.; White at Yulee, 6:30 p.m.; Stanton at Ribault, TBD; Raines at Paxon, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Raines-Paxon winner vs. White-Yulee winner, TBD; Stanton-Ribault winner vs. Westside-Bishop Kenny winner, TBD; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Bishop Kenny (1), Yulee (7), Paxon (15), Ribault (16), Stanton (17), Raines (19), White (21), Westside (23)
Top seed: Bishop Kenny. Despite a couple of recent losses, the Crusaders are the team to beat here. Troy Ancayan, Franco Chaluja and Andrew McWilliams are among the seasoned seniors in a lineup that always seems to come up with the clutch late hits.
Area bubble team: Yulee. The Hornets are in a perilous spot with the last at-large bid in the region, since a District 4-4A team is guaranteed to qualify. If they make it, though, watch out: Preston Matricardi, Tripp Hannah and Mason Jones are prized prospects on a young and powerful team.
Player to watch: Owen Delaney, Bishop Kenny. The junior outfielder has made a big jump this year, batting .456 with a 1.115 OPS, six doubles and 15 walks.
District 4-4A
At higher seed
Schedule: Tuesday, Gainesville Eastside at Alachua Santa Fe, 7 p.m.; Palatka at Menendez, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Alachua Santa Fe (9), Menendez (12), Palatka (14), Gainesville Eastside (20)
Top seed: Santa Fe. Though their record floats around .500, the Raiders have an effective No. 1 pitcher in Caleb Kietzman (4-1, 2.43 ERA, 51 K) and a promising high-contact batter in Jackson McDavid (.441, 1.078 OPS).
Area bubble team: None. Menendez and Palatka would both have to win the district tournament.
Player to watch: Kyle Geib, Menendez. The top batter on a Falcons team that's mired in an April slump, Geib is batting .316 with seven doubles and a .944 OPS.
District 2-3A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Bradford at West Nassau, TBD; Tuesday, Bradford-West Nassau winner at Trinity Christian, TBD; Baldwin at Bishop Snyder, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Trinity Christian (2), Bishop Snyder (4), Baldwin (11), West Nassau (12), Bradford (19)
Top seed: Trinity Christian. A no-doubt-about-it state contender, with stars like Florida commits Brady Harris and Ethan Wheeler, Florida State commit Brayden Harris, Maryland commit Gage Petrutz and fast-rising Jordan Martinez. And all of them are just sophomores. Watch out.
Area bubble team: Baldwin. With more than two FHSAA rating points to make up, Baldwin's chances don't look great, and they may need the automatic bid. Maxwell Gallagher and Cooper Farah are having solid years in B-Town.
Player to watch: Aidan King, Bishop Snyder. Signed with Florida, the senior has been flat-out dominant on the mound (1.01 ERA, 6 BB/107 K in 55 1/3 innings) and effective at the plate (.854 OPS).
District 3-3A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Wolfson at Fernandina Beach, 6:30 p.m.; Jackson at Episcopal, TBD; Tuesday, Wolfson-Fernandina Beach winner at Bolles, TBD; Jackson-Episcopal winner at Providence, TBD; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Bolles (3), Providence (5), Episcopal (6), Fernandina Beach (10), Wolfson (17), Jackson (25)
Top seed: Bolles. It starts with the pitching arms of Clemson signee Chayce Kieck (57 K in 49 2/3 IP, 1.55 ERA) and David Martin (68 K/45 IP, 1.09 ERA), who have combined for 13 wins. Add Spencer Stephens, Gabe Gonzalez and an opportunistic batting order and the result is a playoff contender.
Area bubble team: Episcopal. The Eagles look likely to qualify but could be on shaky ground in the event of surprises in neighboring brackets. Five regulars bat .319 or better, led by juniors Lawson Perry (.349) and Jack Ottesen (.342).
Player to watch: Mason Wortmann, Providence. An energizer for the Stallions' offense, the infielder bats .297 with seven doubles and a .995 OPS. Providence pitching is potent, too, including Kyle Powers and Dominic Rabiei.
District 4-3A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Interlachen at Father Lopez, 7 p.m.; Crescent City at P.K. Yonge, 7 p.m.; Pierson Taylor at Keystone Heights, TBD; Tuesday, Interlachen-Father Lopez winner at Trinity Catholic, TBD; Crescent City-P.K. Yonge winner vs. Taylor-Keystone winner, TBD; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Ocala Trinity Catholic (7), Keystone Heights (8), P.K. Yonge (14), Father Lopez (18), Interlachen (22), Crescent City (23), Pierson Taylor (24)
Top seed: Ocala Trinity Catholic. The Celtics have a Miami-committed pitcher in Mekai Griffin (47 strikeouts in 37 innings, 2.04 ERA), but batting has been a struggle with a .243 team average.
Area bubble team: Keystone Heights. About 1.2 points separate Keystone from region No. 9 Marianna, which is too close for comfort. They likely need to reach at least the final to feel at all confident. Connor Guy, signed with Daytona State College, powers this team with a .500 average, six doubles, five homers and a 1.521 OPS.
Player to watch: Micah Gratto, P.K. Yonge. A Gainesville player to watch in the 2025 class, the infielder is batting .424 with six doubles.
District 2-2A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, First Coast Christian at Harvest Community, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Christ's Church at St. Joseph, 4 p.m.; First Coast Christian-Harvest Community winner at St. Johns Country Day, TBD; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: St. Johns Country Day (1), St. Joseph (3), Christ's Church (6), Harvest Community (10), First Coast Christian (15)
Top seed: St. Johns Country Day. The Spartans showed their strength at the National High School Invitational and can hurt opponents from top to bottom in the lineup. Kolt Myers (Florida), Seth Alford (North Florida) and Kyle Boylston (Florida Atlantic) are just a few of the future college players leading a serious FHSAA contender.
Area bubble team: Christ's Church. Unless other districts have serious upsets, the Eagles look safe. Pitcher Jackson Hadden has been among Jacksonville's top small-school players this year, allowing only nine hits and zero earned runs while batting .400.
Player to watch: Aiden Torrez, St. Joseph. The New Orleans commit brings home run pop to the plate, with four long balls this year and a .979 OPS. He also holds a 1.95 ERA as a pitcher.
District 3-2A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Parsons at Eagle's View, 6 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6:30 p.m.
Region rankings: University Christian (4), Eagle's View (13), Parsons Christian (14).
Top seed: University Christian. On fire in April, University Christian has been a walk-off winning machine, particularly through the highlights of senior Camden Harnage. They've beaten playoff contenders Union County, Trinity Christian, Baker County and Englewood in the last two weeks.
Area bubble team: None. UC is safely in the field and the other three schools must earn the automatic bid.
Player to watch: Caden Worbington, University Christian. Among the top two-way junior threats in Jacksonville this year, Worbington is hitting .389 at the plate and mowing down batters on the mound (64 K in 44 IP, 1.27 ERA).
District 4-2A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Peniel Baptist at Oak Hall, 4 p.m.; Countryside Christian at St. Francis, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Gainesville Oak Hall (5), Gainesville St. Francis (8), Countryside Christian (11), Peniel Baptist (19).
Top seed: Oak Hall. The Eagles are district favorites, with Gavin Jones and Ethan Szlachetka both batting above .380 for the year.
Area bubble team: None. Peniel Baptist would have to win the district tournament.
Player to watch: McCabe Long, St. Francis. The Wolves' senior ace is 4-0, striking out two batters per inning.
District 6-1A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Hamilton County at Hilliard, 7 p.m.; Branford at Fort White, TBD; Tuesday, Branford-Fort White winner at Mayo Lafayette, TBD; Hamilton County-Hilliard winner at Union County, TBD; Thursday, championship, TBD.
Region rankings: Mayo Lafayette (1), Union County (2), Hilliard (7), Fort White (9), Branford (10), Hamilton County (12).
Top seed: Lafayette. Only Newberry has stung the Hornets all season. Junior Hyatt Richardson has excelled for Lafayette: In 43 2/3 innings, he's struck out 86 batters while allowing nine hits, with a 6-1 record and an 0.48 ERA.
Area bubble team: Union County. It's mathematically possible but highly unlikely for the Fightin' Tigers to tumble from the bubble. One win in districts should be more than enough to clinch.
Player to watch: Hayden Adams, Fort White. The senior holds a 1.014 OPS thanks to an unlikely source: He's been hit by pitches 16 times this year, nearly once per game. Adams also has speed, with two triples and 13 steals.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school baseball: Northeast Florida district tournament previews
