Playoff time: St. Johns County opens FHSAA baseball postseason with first round
The Florida High School Athletic Association begins first-round regional baseball playoffs Tuesday and Wednesday across St. Johns County and Northeast Florida. All schedules are as listed by the FHSAA but are subject to change.
All games 7 p.m. Tuesday unless noted
REGION 1-7A
Bartram Trail (16-11) at Spruce Creek (18-9)
Sophomore Dominic Cantona (.448) leads the Bears back into regionals. But Spruce Creek defeated the Bears 5-2 in February, and include dominant junior pitcher Garrett Grant (8-1, 0.46 ERA). The winner plays Friday night against Timber Creek or Flagler Palm Coast.
Winter Park (13-12) at Creekside (17-10)
For the Knights, Sean Ashenfelder (.973 OPS) and Adam Harvey (.891 OPS) are hot at the plate, and pitching is deep. Winter Park's Jake Eisert is batting .371 with four homers and a 1.138 OPS against top opposition. A Knights win means a Friday home game against Lake Mary or Lake Brantley.
REGION 1-6A
Tocoi Creek (18-7) at Tallahassee Chiles (18-8)
Andy Lemaster and Chase Pate, both batting above .360, are ready to lead the Toros out of their late slump (a 3-5 finish). They'll encounter Gulf Coast State College commit Davis Avera dishes out big hits (.333, 7 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 1.030 OPS). The winner plays Oakleaf or Oviedo Hagerty.
How they got here: Trinity Christian rolls, plus Creekside, Beachside, Bolles, BK win
REGION 1-5A
St. Augustine (15-10) at Escambia (20-7)
A long road trip for the Yellow Jackets and senior Ryan Hansen, up to 16 extra-base hits and a 1.199 OPS. Escambia bats .326 as a team with a senior ace in Isaac Bates (5-0, 1.25 ERA), committed to Northwest Florida State College. The winner gets Orange Park or Tallahassee Lincoln.
Ponte Vedra (12-15) at Clay (16-9)
The teams' February meeting ended in a career outing for Merrick Rapoza, who struck out 17 in a two-hitter as Clay won 2-0. Despite Ponte Vedra's record, the Sharks can be dangerous, and they'll include a .400 batter in senior Cade Eidam.
Columbia (15-12) at Beachside (15-13)
It's history for the second-year Barracudas, who enter postseason with a balanced lineup and a College of Central Florida-committed ace in Jake Meadows. The Tigers bring one of Northeast Florida's best to St. Johns County, junior Ayden Phillips (.468, 6 HR, 1.390 OPS).
REGION 1-2A
Christ's Church (15-8) at St. Joseph (19-8), 7 p.m. Wednesday
New Orleans commit Aiden Torrez leads the host Flashes, who have already beaten CCA by a combined 23-0 in two games. For the Eagles, senior Jackson Hadden allowed no earned runs in the regular season. The winner advances to face Tallahassee North Florida Christian or Tallahassee St. John Paul II on Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school baseball 2024: St. Johns County first-round previews
