'Nobody wants to feel that again': Buchholz hungry and ready for first Final Four spot in history

Since opening in 1971, Buchholz has built an esteemed baseball program.

It’s one that’s advanced to eight Region Finals (seven since 1999) and churned out MLB talent like Phoenix Sanders and two-time All-Star Andrew Miller.

Yet, one step has eluded the Bobcats in its 50 plus years.

An appearance in the state final four.

The Bobcats are 0-8 all-time in Region Finals.

After one of their best regular seasons in recent history, the ‘Cats are determined not to extend that number to nine when they host Hagerty Monday in the 6A-Region 1 Final.

Here’s how Buchholz has reached this point:

It all began last season

In 2023, Buchholz’s roster looked much the same as it does this season, and the young ‘Cats succeeded.

They stormed through the regular season and, after drawing a No. 2 seed in Region 1, gained a massive break when top-seeded Pace lost to No. 8 seed Winter Springs in the quarterfinals.

However, that pack of Bears got hot at the right time and stormed into Buchholz in the Regional Final and scored two runs in the top of the seventh to win 10-8.

The sight of seeing Winter Springs celebrate at Bobcat Park hurt junior Wyatt Clarke so much that he believes it made the team ready for this season.

“With the team being so young last year, all of us have been through everything together, and that's just making us ready for Monday because all of us remember them dogpiling out there,” Clarke said.

Postgame, coach Ron Brooks pleaded with the team that this season represented the opportunity to write their own script.

"I think the pen is in our hand, and we get to decide how we're going to play. We're going to play a quality opponent,” Brooks said. “The best team will win, but I like the way we're playing baseball right now and I got a lot of confidence in our team.”

Bobcats clawing at the right time

Brooks has reason to be optimistic in his squad. The ‘Cats (22-8) have won eight in a row. They rolled through districts, upended the No. 8 seed New Smyrna Beach and hung on to defeat No. 4 seed Pace 3-2 Friday night.

Smart pitching decisions by Brooks characterized the win. Senior and Clemson commit Anthony Wilkie got the start, but he ran into trouble in the second inning.

Austin Cardozo, senior and son of Florida baseball announcer Jeff Cardozo, entered and even though Pace plated a run, he kept the damage minimal.

When he ran into difficulties of his own in the fourth, Brooks brought in Clarke with the bases loaded and a 3-1 count.

Clarke drew a double play and finished out the final 3 2/3, allowing just one run.

“I knew if I gave my defense a chance we were going to get out of the inning,” Clarke said.

In a game with few extra base hits, Gardner helped big time with a solo home run in the fifth inning that gave Buchholz a critical third run.

“It gave us a lot of confidence because one run is not enough in high school baseball,” Clarke said. “We didn’t have any pressure after that.”

For the 'Cats of the past

Buchholz now turns its attention to Hagerty.

The Huskies upset Chiles 4-0 Saturday in Tallahassee, preventing a third round with the Timberwolves.

Out in Oviedo near Orlando, Hagerty sits just 10 miles from Winter Springs and features some of the same players that beat Buchholz last season.

If Buchholz can finally clinch a spot in Fort Myers, Gardner said he’d be honored to be a part of history.

“We'd love to make history for Buchholz,” Gardner said. “To make it to Fort Myers. Obviously, the goal is to win once we get there, but just making it there would be huge for Buchholz.”

Brooks said this region title would be for all Bobcats of the past who just couldn’t grasp it.

“We would have represented the school, this program, our administration, the parents, the alumni,” Brooks said. “I would just love for that to happen for our program.”

First pitch Monday from Bobcat Park is set for 7 p.m. Monday.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Buchholz baseball looks for first FHSAA 6A Final Four appearance vs Hagerty