Postseason pitch: Teams, players and storylines for FHSAA district softball tournaments
The Florida High School Athletic Association district softball tournaments open Monday in Northeast Florida. All schedules are as listed by the FHSAA, but are subject to change.
District 1-7A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Sandalwood at Bartram Trail, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Sandalwood-Bartram Trail winner at Creekside, 6 p.m.; Atlantic Coast at Mandarin, 6 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6 p.m.
Region rankings: Creekside (1), Mandarin (7), Atlantic Coast (10), Bartram Trail (14), Sandalwood (18)
Top seed: Early favorites for the final four? It's looking good for the Knights, who have a reliable senior pitcher in Kaylee Martineau (12-4, 2.04 ERA) and experienced batters like Bella Campbell and Riley Waters. They're batting .334 entering postseason.
Area bubble team: Mandarin. Always a playoff contender, the Mustangs are batting .356 and include a .518 hitter in senior Ava Schreiber. With a three-point margin over ninth-place Winter Park, the Mustangs are in unless surprise teams snatch an automatic berth or two.
Player to watch: Kiera Strub, Bartram Trail. Committed to Barry, she's hitting .421 with eight doubles and four homers on a powerful Bears lineup alongside Addison Maliga and Lucie McDonald.
Stats leaders: Northeast Florida's top high school softball performers
District 3-6A
At Oakleaf
Schedule: Monday, Fletcher vs. Gainesville Buchholz, 5 p.m.; Tocoi Creek vs. First Coast, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Tocoi Creek-First Coast winner vs. Nease, 5 p.m.; Fletcher-Buchholz winner vs. Oakleaf, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Oakleaf (3), Nease (10), First Coast (17), Gainesville Buchholz (18), Fletcher (19), Tocoi Creek (21).
Top seed: Oakleaf. Never overlook the Knights. Future Dartmouth pitcher Charlotte Maddox is 10-3 with a 1.35 ERA against a bruising schedule, and she also tops the .400 mark at the plate. Senior Meshayla Pettaway, junior Jaydyn Beall and sophomore Ava Tolbert are also at .400 or higher.
Area bubble team: Nease. The Panthers have ground to make up, but they're only a third of a point behind eighth-ranked region team Navarre in a hectic chase that also includes Winter Springs and Oviedo. Seniors Corinna Cioffi and Taylor Burton, both headed to FSCJ, combine for 21 doubles.
Player to watch: Carmen Overstreet, First Coast. Get ready for extra-base hits when Overstreet arrives at the plate. In her freshman year, she's batting .447 with seven doubles, six home runs and a 1.515 OPS.
District 2-5A
Late rounds at Columbia
Schedule: Monday, Ridgeview vs. Orange Park, 6 p.m.; Tallahassee Lincoln vs. Columbia, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Ridgeview-Orange Park winner vs. Middleburg, 6 p.m.; Lincoln-Columbia winner vs. Gainesville; Thursday, championship, 6:30 p.m.
Region rankings: Middleburg (1), Gainesville (4), Columbia (7), Orange Park (11), Ridgeview (12), Tallahassee Lincoln (15)
Top seed: Middleburg. They won it all two years ago, and at No. 1 in Class 5A, they might do it again. The top of the batting order, with Kaelyn Hagan (.473, 8 2B, 7 HR, 1.455 OPS), Alyssa Prather (.493, 8 2B, 6 HR, 1.420 OPS) and Kerra Clarida (.478, 8 2B, 12 HR, 1.677 OPS), may be Northeast Florida's most dangerous.
Area bubble team: Columbia. Less than a point separates the Tigers from pursuer Ponte Vedra, and that's too close for comfort. A young Columbia team with Harleigh Price (.519, 6 2B, 4 HR) and Josie Raulerson (.439, 8 2B, 3 HR) might need to beat Gainesville to feel confident.
Player to watch: Haylee McCrea, Ridgeview. Before she heads to Eastern Florida State College, McCrea is trying to launch one last playoff push for the Panthers, hitting for both contact (.339 batting average) and extra-base power (six doubles, four home runs).
District 3-5A
Late rounds at Ponte Vedra
Schedule: Monday, Englewood at Beachside, 6 p.m.; St. Augustine at Clay, 6 p.m.; Parker at Ponte Vedra, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Englewood-Beachside winner vs. Fleming Island, 5:30 p.m.; St. Augustine-Clay winner vs. Parker-Ponte Vedra winner, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Fleming Island (6), Ponte Vedra (9), Clay (13), Beachside (18), Englewood (19), St. Augustine (20), Parker (24)
Top seed: Fleming Island. Among Northeast Florida's most improved teams, Fleming Island has six starters batting above .340 and includes one of the season's most promising newcomers in Jolee Rich (.355, 11 2B, 1.021 OPS).
Area bubble team: Ponte Vedra. Can the Sharks make it? They're less than half a point behind Columbia and Deltona for at-large berths, but they likely must reach at least the district final. The return of Troy commit Caiden Oliva, who made her season debut April 8, is a major boost.
Player to watch: Bailey Parker, Clay. A senior leader on a Blue Devils roster in a year of transition, Parker has a .379 batting average with a team-high seven doubles.
District 2-4A
At Paxon
Schedule: Tuesday, White at Paxon, 6 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Baker County (3), Paxon (5), White (16)
Top seed: Baker County. The one-two pitching combination of Chloe Woods (9-3, 1.50 ERA) and Rylee Walker (7-1, 2.13 ERA) is tough to beat, and Baleigh Shields (.444, 3 HR, 1.230 OPS) is having a terrific year at the plate.
Area bubble team: None. Paxon is completely safe barring district championships for White, Tallahassee Godby, Tallahassee Rickards or Pensacola, who have five combined victories this year.
Player to watch: Jaela Palmer, Paxon. The junior catcher (.408, 7 HR, 24 RBI) is part of a high-scoring Golden Eagles lineup with seniors Addison Brown, Mackenzie Pitzer and Kennedy Waymer.
District 3-4A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Riverside at Raines, 6 p.m.; Ribault at Stanton, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Riverside-Raines winner at Bishop Kenny, 6 p.m.; Ribault-Stanton winner at Yulee, 6 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6 p.m.
Region rankings: Bishop Kenny (7), Yulee (8), Stanton (11), Raines (12), Riverside (17), Ribault (18)
Top seed: Bishop Kenny. It begins with Pensacola State College-committed pitcher Kaitlyn Gilmore, effective at the plate (.385, 4 2B) and in the circle (13-3, 1.24, 182 K). Emma Serra, in her freshman year, is producing a power surge with four homers.
Area bubble team: Yulee. Four playoff contenders occupy District 1-4A in the Panhandle, which might leave room for only one qualifier in this district. Riley Kapparis (.434, 7 2B, 5 HR) and Kyleigh Golden (.458, 5 3B, 2 HR) energize the Hornets at the plate.
Player to watch: Ty'bresha Wright, Raines. Watch out when pitching to the Vikings' senior outfielder: Her batting average is up to .585 with five home runs.
District 4-4A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Daytona Beach Seabreeze at Port Orange Atlantic, 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, championship, 6 p.m.
Region rankings: Menendez (9), Port Orange Atlantic (10), Daytona Beach Seabreeze (14)
Top seed: Menendez. Building steadily for years, the Falcons look like playoff material in 2024. Mount Olive-signed catcher Leann McCready is putting up sky-high numbers (.537 average, 9 2B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 1.663 OPS).
Area bubble team: None. Only the district winner is likely to qualify.
Player to watch: Aurielle Reavis, Port Orange Atlantic. The senior shortstop is deadly at the plate. How deadly? Try a .652 average with nine doubles, eight home runs and a 2.073 OPS. The Sharks bat .362 as a team, but their pitching has lacked consistency.
District 2-3A
At Suwannee
Schedule: Monday, Gadsden County vs. Florida High, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Gadsden County-Florida High winner vs. Marianna, 7 p.m.; Taylor County vs. Suwannee, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Marianna (5), Suwannee (6), Taylor County (8), Florida High (11)
Top seed: Marianna. The Bulldogs count on a Stetson-signed pitcher in Kennedy Temples (15-7, 1.43 ERA, 226 K) to go with long-ball power from Addison Giles, Jadyn Riano and Amarii Spires.
Area bubble team: Suwannee. Provided there aren't major upsets in other districts, the Bulldogs should be all right. Braylyn Federico, Haley Law, Rachel Smith and Brianna Woods are reliable at the plate.
Player to watch: Hannah Shiver, Taylor County. The senior is among the year's most effective players in Class 3A, hitting .449 with eight home runs and recording an 0.93 ERA with 131 strikeouts in the circle.
District 3-3A
At Palatka
Schedule: Monday, Interlachen vs. Pierson Taylor, 5 p.m.; Crescent City vs. Bradford, 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Interlachen-Taylor winner vs. Keystone Heights, 5 p.m.; Crescent City-Bradford winner vs. Palatka, 5 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6:30 p.m.
Region rankings: Keystone Heights (7), Palatka (12), Bradford (13), Pierson Taylor (16)
Top seed: Keystone Heights. The won-lost record doesn't tell the story for Keystone, whose opposition has been formidable. Ashley Nugent (.413, 3 HR, 18 RBI) and Abbie Roach (.385, 8 2B, 3 3B) head a lineup that averages 6.5 runs per game.
Area bubble team: None. Palatka and Bradford must win the tournament to advance.
Player to watch: Addyson Hinds, Bradford. The sophomore can clear the fence at any moment, batting .469 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI.
District 4-3A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Jackson at Fernandina Beach, 6:30 p.m.; Wolfson at West Nassau, 6:30 p.m.; Bolles at Baldwin, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Jackson-Fernandina Beach winner at Episcopal, 6:30 p.m.; Wolfson-West Nassau winner vs. Bolles-Baldwin winner, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6:30 p.m.
Region rankings: Episcopal (1), Baldwin (2), West Nassau (4), Fernandina Beach (9), Jackson (15), Wolfson (17), Bolles (19).
Top seed: Episcopal. In Northeast Florida's toughest district, Grace Jones gives the Eagles a chance to go all the way to the FHSAA finals in Clermont. The senior is batting .600 with nine homers and a 1.938 OPS, and she's struck out 273 batters.
Area bubble team: Fernandina Beach. There's still a chance for the Pirates to leapfrog Taylor County into the last spot, giving the district a fourth playoff qualifier along with locks Episcopal, Baldwin and West Nassau. Rylee Murallo leads with six homers.
Player to watch: Cali Hartung, Baldwin. The catcher has off-the-charts run production numbers (.411, 10 2B, 8 HR, 42 RBI) in a loaded lineup where Amiyah Jones, Chloe Gotto and Kendall North are just a few of the threats.
District 2-2A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Eagle's View at St. Joseph, 7 p.m.; First Coast Christian at Bishop Snyder, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Eagle's View-St. Joseph winner at Trinity Christian, 7 p.m.; First Coast Christian-Bishop Snyder winner at St. Johns Country Day, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Trinity Christian (4), St. Johns Country Day (5), Bishop Snyder (9), St. Joseph (12), Eagle's View (15), First Coast Christian (19)
Top seed: Trinity Christian. Mercer-signed infielder Hannah Rivers (.339, 6 HR, 1.268 OPS) and Texas Southern signee Kadriana Mincey (.375, 3 2B, 1.118 OPS) produce runs steadily for the Conquerors, whose schedule is the toughest among teams in this district.
Area bubble team: Bishop Snyder. With three points to gain on Harvest Community in the FHSAA rankings, the Cardinals likely can't make up that gap without winning the district.
Player to watch: Jules Raimondi, St. Johns Country Day. Committed to Rollins, the senior pitcher also accumulates hits at a steady rate with a .535 batting average and two home runs.
District 3-2A
At higher seed
Schedule: Monday, Parsons Christian at Christ's Church, 4 p.m.; Seacoast Christian at Harvest Community, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Parsons-Christ's Church winner at University Christian, 6 p.m.; Seacoast-Harvest winner at Providence, 6 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: University Christian (1), Providence (2), Harvest Community (7), Christ's Church (14), Parsons Christian (20), Seacoast Christian (21)
Top seed: University Christian. Can UC repeat? USC Upstate-committed pitcher Sophia Kardatzke always gives them a chance, batting .647 this year and continuing to strike out nearly two batters per inning while racking up an OPS above 1.900 for the fifth consecutive season.
Area bubble team: Harvest Community. Unless upsets shake up other districts, the Warriors appear playoff-bound. While their strength of schedule doesn't compare to UC or Providence, Harvest has been crushing the softball. Marley Elliott, Julia Foti and Rebekah Harmer all hit above .500.
Player to watch: Summer Stearns, Providence. A Stallion starter since seventh grade, the sophomore is among Jacksonville's best on the infield with a .458 average, two home runs and a 1.379 OPS.
District 4-2A
At Father Lopez
Schedule: Tuesday, St. Francis vs. Countryside Christian, 5 p.m.; Peniel Baptist at Father Lopez, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 6 p.m.
Region rankings: Countryside Christian (8), Peniel Baptist (10), Father Lopez (16), Gainesville St. Francis (18)
Top seed: Countryside Christian. The Minutemen have played wild games with scores like 13-12, 12-11 and 27-14, and they depend on extra-base threats like Riley Keith (.472, six doubles).
Area bubble team: None. Peniel Baptist has too much ground to make up without winning the district tournament and the automatic berth.
Player to watch: Lexi Peacock, Peniel Baptist. The junior reaches base more often than not, hitting .583 with 11 doubles and three triples.
District 5-1A
At Madison County
Schedule: Monday, Hamilton County vs. Wakulla Christian, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Aucilla Christian vs. Hilliard, 5 p.m.; Hamilton County-Wakulla Christian winner at Madison County, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Madison County (3), Hilliard (4), Aucilla Christian (7), Wakulla Christian (8), Hamilton County (10)
Top seed: Madison County. A six-game winning streak banished any bubble worries for Madison County. With seniors Josie Driggers and Kelsie Shea Thompson, they'll have a pair of effective pitchers entering the playoffs.
Area bubble team: Hilliard. With a margin of more than two points, Hilliard looks fairly safe, but there's still the possibility of a surprise in District 6-1A that could bump the Red Flashes from the bubble.
Player to watch: Emma Vickers, Aucilla Christian. With a 1.29 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 76 innings, the Southeastern signee gives the Warriors a chance to surprise some people.
District 6-1A
At Branford
Schedule: Monday, Union County vs. Bell, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Union County-Bell winner vs. Fort White, 5 p.m.; Mayo Lafayette at Branford, 7 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.
Region rankings: Fort White (1), Branford (2), Mayo Lafayette (5), Bell (6), Union County (9).
Top seed: Fort White. Once again, Fort White fields a top multiple-threat junior in Kadence Compton, who's batting .372 with five doubles and strikes out more than one and a half batters per inning with a 1.17 ERA.
Area bubble team: None. Fort White is in, and Union County must win the district.
Player to watch: Jesse Frierson, Branford. The junior outfielder means business with the bat. She's hitting .456 with nine doubles and nine home runs.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school softball: Northeast Florida district tournament previews
