It's playoff time: First-round regional previews, Northeast Florida high school softball

The Florida High School Athletic Association begins regional playoffs Wednesday and Thursday for softball across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. All schedules are as listed by the FHSAA, but are subject to change.

All times 7 p.m. Wednesday unless noted

REGION 1-4A

Menendez (15-6) at Wakulla (22-3)

Leann McCready (.529, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 1.622 OPS) and Madelyn Brown (17-K shutout last time out) are on fire for Menendez, facing a tough assignment. The senior-less War Eagles, winners of 13 in a row, can deploy Auburn commit Charley Butler in the circle.

Paxon (15-9) at West Florida (16-11)

Paxon packs a punch at the plate, including 13 combined home runs for Jaela Palmer and Mackenzie Pitzer. The Golden Eagles encounter a major challenge: West Florida senior Sydney Scapin, signed with South Alabama, is nearing 1,000 career strikeouts.

Yulee (17-6) at Baker County (17-5)

The Wildcats won 5-2 in February, with eight strikeouts from Rylee Walker. Yulee has been gathering momentum, qualifying for postseason on a Riley Kapparis homer in the seventh against Bishop Kenny. The winner plays South Walton or Panama City Beach Arnold on May 14.

How they got here: Baldwin tops Episcopal in thriller, Creekside, UC also win

REGION 1-3A

Palatka (11-15) at Baldwin (26-1)

From Shaylen Byrd in the circle to a top-to-bottom punishing lineup, the reigning regional champions are back at home, where they're always tough to beat. Palatka has its own power threat in Emily Brown (7 HR). The winner gets Marianna or North Bay Haven on May 14.

West Nassau (16-8) at Suwannee (16-10)

Reese Green and Sydney English are both among the area's most seasoned seniors as the Warriors hit the road to Live Oak. They'll meet a strikeout machine in Suwannee's Gracie Watley, now up to 214 in the K column on the season.

Keystone Heights (12-12) at Episcopal (23-3)

Playoff time begins for 1,000-strikeout Eagles ace Grace Jones, whose 2024 numbers are staggering: .606, 10 HR, 2.003 OPS, 23-3, 0.64 ERA, 319 K. Keystone's FSCJ commit Abbie Roach has extra-base pop, batting .391 with 10 doubles and three triples.

REGION 1-2A

St. Joseph (7-9) at University Christian (15-7)

UC begins the quest for a repeat, powered by the potent bat of senior Sophia Kardatzke (.654, 9 2B, 1.962 OPS). Two-way threat Jessica Camacho (.531, 5 HR) leads the Flashes, who rebounded from a 2-7 start.

St. Johns Country Day (11-5) at Trinity Christian (8-12)

Future college batters Hannah Rivers (Mercer) and Kadriana Mincey (Texas Southern) stand out for the host Conquerors. St. Johns, surprised in the district by St. Joseph, brings seniors with sky-high averages in Brooklyn Mauck (.614) and Jules Raimondi (.549).

Providence (9-12) at Countryside Christian (9-4), 4:30 p.m.

Summer Stearns (.456, 1.358 OPS) leads a Providence lineup against Countryside Christian, which piles up runs but struggles in the pitching department. The winner plays May 14 against Tallahassee North Florida Christian or Tallahassee St. John Paul II.

All times 7 p.m. Thursday unless noted

REGION 1-7A

Mandarin (15-8) at Spruce Creek (19-3)

After anxious moments, Mandarin made it, and now they'll face Kentucky signee Julie Kelley (.424, 11 2B, 1.276 OPS; 13-1, 0.41 ERA). Mandarin's Ava Schreiber reaches base steadily with a .492 average. If the Mustangs pull off the upset, they'll head to Lake Mary or Sanford Seminole.

Timber Creek (18-7) at Creekside (20-5)

Creekside's Carly Dall has five doubles in the last three games, and Kaylee Martineau remains steady in the circle. The Knights must watch out for freshman Emma Pynes (.429, 9 2B, 20 RBI). The winning team meets Lake Brantley or Orange City University.

REGION 1-6A

Lake Howell (14-9) at Oakleaf (17-8)

Oakleaf is playing its best softball when it matters, paced by junior Charley Maddox. There's danger from Lake Howell junior Cate Haggerty, hitting .413 with eight doubles. If the Knights win, they play May 14 against Oviedo Hagerty or Cantonment Tate.

REGION 1-5A

Columbia (13-11) at Middleburg (21-4)

The top-seeded Broncos are going for two titles in three years and might field the area's deadliest top of the order with Kaelyn Hagan, Kerra Clarida and Alyssa Prather. Columbia freshman Harleigh Price hurled a perfect game last week. The winner plays May 14 against Deltona or Gainesville.

Fleming Island (19-7) at Fort Walton Beach (17-10), 6 p.m. Wednesday

First-time district champion Fleming Island has excited this year, including 13-double newcomer Jolee Rich. But there's power at Fort Walton Beach, with 11 combined homers for Aubree Davis and Alyx Hall. Matanzas or Gulf Breeze awaits the winner.

REGION 3-1A

Madison County (16-10) at Fort White (12-5)

Kadence Compton does it all for Fort White, batting .415 and striking out 199 hitters with an 0.99 ERA. Madison County has two future college pitchers in Josie Driggers (Emmanuel) and Shea Thompson (FSCJ). The winner plays Branford or Aucilla Christian on May 14.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school softball 2024: Jacksonville first-round playoff preview