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First Coast Varsity Weekly: Middleburg's Morgan Beckham perfect in softball districts

Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union
·7 min read

What could be even better than a perfect game?

Maybe a perfect game in the postseason.

That's what Middleburg junior Morgan Beckham achieved Monday, when the defending state softball champions opened the District 2-5A tournament with a 4-0 shutout of Gainesville.

Beckham didn't allow a baserunner against the Hurricanes, facing the minimum 21 batters and striking out 16. The Bowling Green-committed pitcher also struck out 16 batters on April 18 against Palatka, and threw a pair of five-inning no-hitters last season against Gainesville Buchholz and Columbia.

Dominant pitching come playoff time is nothing new for Middleburg. Last year, the Broncos rode a magical May from senior starter Mallory Forrester, now in her freshman year at Flagler College, on their way to a surprise Florida High School Athletic Association championship in Class 5A.

Middleburg pitcher Morgan Beckham (27), pictured in a 2022 game, fired a no-hitter on Monday against Gainesville.
Middleburg pitcher Morgan Beckham (27), pictured in a 2022 game, fired a no-hitter on Monday against Gainesville.

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Softball's playoff chase is on: Inside 15 Northeast Florida district tournaments

Triple triumphs for Nease's Gregory

One really high jump. One really long one. And lots of smaller ones in between.

When it was over, Nease senior Sasha Gregory owned not one, not two but three FHSAA District 2-4A track and field championships during Wednesday's meet at Bartram Trail.

Gregory cleared 5 feet, 3 3/4 inches in the girls high jump, soared 18 feet, 3 inches in the long jump and crossed the line in 1:04.33 in the 400-meter hurdles. The hurdle time surpassed her personal best by two and a half seconds.She nearly came home with four trophies, but her 14.63 in the 100 hurdles placed second to Brittney Jennings of Sandalwood.

More highlights from the track:

Nease's Sasha Gregory competes in the District 2-4A girls high jump. The senior won the high jump, long jump and 400-meter hurdles at the meet.
Nease's Sasha Gregory competes in the District 2-4A girls high jump. The senior won the high jump, long jump and 400-meter hurdles at the meet.

  • Creekside's Christian Miller further improved his time in the boys 200, running 20.64 to enter the top five of the MileSplit national rankings. He also dominated to win the 100, as the Knights' boys placed second in the District 2-4A team standings to Bartram Trail.

  • Creekside's Alyson Johnson now ranks second in Florida in the girls 1,600 and fifth in the 3,200 after winning both events and helping the Knights to the District 2-4A girls team title.

  • Mandarin also achieved a record in the boys 4x800 relay with Gavin Nelson, Erik Lash, Dominic Geraci and Charley West.

  • Fleming Island's Brenden Cook, like Nease's Gregory, won triple titles in District 4-3A in the boys 100, 200 and 110 hurdles. The Golden Eagles set a handful of records at the District 4-3A meet, including Kaitlyn Scherer (2:20.13 in the girls 800), Mikayla Shavers (11.88 meters in the girls triple jump) and the girls 4x100 relay team in 49.66.

  • Led by an outstanding boys field performance and a 1,600-meter 1-2 finish for Lindy White and Daisy Ross, Ponte Vedra raced to the District 4-3A boys and girls team championships in St. Augustine.

  • Carlder Datilus (45 feet, 6 1/4 inches in the boys triple jump) and Mychalea Parker (37 feet, 11 1/4 inches in the girls shot put) led a strong Orange Park effort to win District 3-3A.

  • Stanton's John Syla won the boys 800 (2:02.04) and 1,600 (4:43.27) and anchored the Blue Devils' winning 4x800 relay in District 3-3A.

  • New Menendez school records included Luke Stevens' 1:04.66 in the boys 400 hurdles, Iyana Oxendine's 1:10.27 in the girls 400 hurdles, Marquesha Oxendine's 24.50 meters in the girls javelin and Adriana Lopez's 10.88 meters in the girls triple jump.

  • A third triple title went to Providence's Jaylee Fresh in the girls long jump, triple jump and javelin in District 4-1A. Her performance helped the Stallions to the girls team championship, and the school topped the boys standings as well.

Mandarin's Milton commits to Auburn

Yakiya Milton already helped Mandarin girls hoops to new heights.

Now, she's on her way to the SEC.

The 6-4 Mustangs senior announced her commitment on Saturday to Auburn women's basketball, a major achievement for one of Jacksonville's most productive post players over the past four seasons.

One of two Mandarin All-First Coast selections alongside Nykeria Thomas, Milton averaged 10.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks this season for Mandarin, which won the Gateway Conference and District 1-7A championships on the road to the playoffs.

Noted as a defensive force for four years, she also previously appeared in the FHSAA final four in 2021-22 during her junior season at University Christian.

With her commitment to the Tigers, Northeast Florida will have two players on their way to the SEC West during the coming season. St. Johns Country Day guard Taliah Scott, winner of the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Basketball award, signed with Arkansas.

New homes for Jackson hoops pair

Jackson forwards James Morrow (1) and Stephon Payne (24) look on during a break in play during the 2022 Gateway Conference basketball tournament.
Jackson forwards James Morrow (1) and Stephon Payne (24) look on during a break in play during the 2022 Gateway Conference basketball tournament.

The towers in the middle for Jackson basketball across a string of final four visits, James Morrow and Stephon Payne are on the move in college hoops.

Payne, who played last year at Incarnate Word, announced his move to Jacksonville University by way of the NCAA transfer portal. At the San Antonio college, he averaged 6.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in his freshman season. At JU, he joins a growing Northeast Florida contingent under head coach Jordan Mincy, a list that also includes Jalen Nesmith and Gyasi Powell (Bishop Snyder) and Josiah Sabino (Orange Park).

Former Jackson center Morrow committed to South Carolina State men's basketball, after one season at Fork Union Military Academy.

The two were part of Jackson's Duval County regional dynasty that qualified for consecutive FHSAA final fours from 2019 to 2022.

Golden Eagles trio on flag squad

Undefeated regional semifinalist Fleming Island received three first-team selections on Clay County's All-County team for flag football, selected by area coaches.

Senior quarterback Mykayla Maddox, who has rushed for 965 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing for 1,788 yards and 34 scores, joined receiver London Jenkins and linebacker Gabi Musa on the squad for Fleming Island.

Center Shelby McClain and defensive back Cora Parker represented Clay, along with Keystone Heights' Kendal Gagnon (receiver) and Ella Hutchins (utility), Middleburg's Desiree Hall (linebacker) and Julianna White (defensive back), Oakleaf's Tamia Ragston (rush) and Ridgeview's Ameerah Evans (defensive back), Mia-Bella Gutierrez (receiver), Lexi Haile (running back) and Paetyn Miller (linebacker).

Around the area

Raines' Roman Doles (8) looks to throw during an October game at Atlantic Coast. The senior quarterback committed to Bethune-Cookman football.
Raines' Roman Doles (8) looks to throw during an October game at Atlantic Coast. The senior quarterback committed to Bethune-Cookman football.

Raines quarterback Roman Doles committed to Bethune-Cookman football. …Yulee freshman outfielder Mason Jones committed to Virginia Tech baseball. … Bartram Trail midfielder Dimani Mathlin committed to Dominican University of California men's soccer. … Bartram Trail guard Lina Kouchis committed to Flagler women's basketball. ... Fernandina Beach recognized college signings for Jamieson Keith (Merchant Marine, baseball), Andre Lucas (Southern Virginia, football) and Brooks Rohe (Merchant Marine, football). … Fleming Island recognized college signings for Lily Hough (Trinity College, volleyball), Kennedy Johnsen (Florida Southern, women's soccer), Kaitlyn Scherer (Florida Gulf Coast, women's soccer) and Jace Van Lierop (Lynn, men's lacrosse). … Menendez recognized college signings for Amelia Fuentes (Brevard, women's lacrosse), Tomas Jones (Concord, football) and Ryan McAnallen (Barton, men's swimming). … Sandalwood recognized college signings for Holden Bradshaw (Gulf Coast State College, baseball), Tayler Graham (Incarnate Word, women's diving), Duffy Mista (Coker, wrestling), Blake Pacheco (Florida A&M, baseball), Gary Reed (Mid-America Nazarene, cheer), Tanner Reed (Thomas, baseball), Cooper Whited (Gulf Coast State College, baseball) and Caden Wilson (FSCJ, baseball). … Tocoi Creek hired Cory Hill, formerly at University Christian, as girls basketball head coach. … Former Stanton sprinter Kendal Williams ran a wind-aided 9.98 100-meter dash at a track meet in Clermont, in which current Montverde Academy sprinter Issam Asinga ran 9.83. … Former Columbia receiver Marcus Peterson announced his transfer to McNeese football. … Former Sandalwood cornerback Jahquez Robinson announced his transfer to Colorado. … Former Fleming Island fullback T.K. Kocak, previously at Navy, and former Parker defensive back Damani Dent, who missed his freshman football season at Michigan due to injury, are entering the transfer portal. … Former Orange Park basketball and track athlete John Abate was named male senior athlete of the year at Spring Hill College in Alabama. … Episcopal's varsity girls coxed fours won the scholastic rowing championship at Saturday's Florida Sweep Championship in Sarasota. … Sam Collingwood of St. Thomas Aquinas was named Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Water Polo, while Gulliver Prep's Gabriela Montalvo and Lake Nona's Emily Scheerer tied in voting for Miss Water Polo.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Middleburg's Morgan Beckham pitches perfect game in softball district