Softball district wrap: Baldwin tops Episcopal in thriller, Creekside, UC also win
For Cali Hartung, the hit felt just right off the bat. But she didn't imagine this one would become her ninth home run of 2024, and likely the biggest.
"I was just trying to be a good leader and get a base hit and hopefully have everybody follow through after me," the senior catcher said. "Was not expecting a home run at all."
Hartung's seventh-inning home run tied the game, Amiyah Jones' skillful squeeze built a lead in extras and Shaylen Byrd's clutch strikeouts slammed the door with the bases loaded, sealing Baldwin's 2-1 victory over Episcopal in Thursday night's classic Florida High School Athletic Association District 4-3A softball final.
Grace Jones surpassed the 1,000-strikeout mark for her career in a milestone game, a battle of top-20 teams in the FHSAA rankings lived up to its billing.
"She's the best pitcher we've seen," Baldwin coach Jennifer Shields said. "We just kept telling them, just keep working."
Episcopal's Jones yielded only one hit until Hartung's solo shot in the seventh in the latest clutch hit for the Baldwin veteran. But Byrd matched her inning for inning, until Claire Cinnamond's homer in the bottom of the sixth gave the host Eagles (24-2) a short-lived lead.
The roller coaster picked up speed in the eighth. Amiyah Jones dropped down a bunt that scored ghost runner Makaila Fry for Baldwin's first advantage. In the bottom of the frame, Baldwin (26-1) walked Grace Jones intentionally for the fourth time of the night, and later issued Cinnamond an intentional pass to load the bases, but Byrd wrapped it up with her 12th strikeout.
Both schools are already assured of qualification for next week's FHSAA regionals, and based on the association's ranking formula, Baldwin and Episcopal could find themselves on a collision course for a postseason rematch.
"They're a great team," Shields said, "and we're probably going to see them again at some point in the playoffs."
Baseball district wrap: Trinity Christian rolls, plus Creekside, Beachside, Bolles, BK win
District 1-7A
Kaylee Martineau hurled a one-hit shutout and also belted a double for Creekside, winning 2-0 against visiting Atlantic Coast (12-14).
Carly Dall continued her solid week with an RBI single for Creekside (20-5). Morgan Brown allowed only two hits for the Stingrays.
District 3-6A
Charley Maddox stayed hot in the circle for Oakleaf, pitching a five-hitter as the Knights won 7-1 against Nease (15-8).
The Knights (17-8) got four doubles, including two from Amya Mirelez, and built a three-run lead in the first inning.
District 2-5A
Freshman pitcher Leanna Bourdage shut down the mighty bats of Middleburg, striking out 18 in a no-hitter to lead visiting Gainesville (20-4).
Braylin Cook homered for the Hurricanes, who scored one run in the second inning and two in the third for a quick lead. The Broncos (21-4), who were unable to exploit six walks, are still guaranteed a qualifying berth for regionals.
District 2-4A
Baker County's one-two pitching combination of Chloe Woods and Rylee Walker worked wonders once more, combining on a four-hitter in an 8-2 victory over Paxon (15-9).
Baleigh Shields doubled with two RBI and Masyn Barlow knocked in three runs for the Wildcats (17-5), who scored three runs each in the first and second. Mackenzie Pitzer hit a homer for the Golden Eagles.
District 3-4A
With a Riley Kapparis go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh inning, Yulee rallied for a 3-2 victory at Bishop Kenny (16-8).
Bishop Kenny scored twice in the first on a double by Emma Serra, but senior Kapparis contained the Crusader bats the rest of the way for Yulee (17-6).
District 4-4A
Junior Madelyn Brown delivered her best start of the year, hurling a one-hit shutout and striking out 17, and Menendez rolled 4-0 past Port Orange Atlantic (7-10) in Wednesday's district final.
Emily Tobuck, Dylan McDade and Rylan Degrande all doubled for the Falcons (15-6).
District 2-3A
Gracie Watley pitched a two-hitter and Suwannee nailed down a district championship in Live Oak, winning 4-1 against surprise finalist Florida High (13-14).
Braylyn Federico and Felicity May each doubled for the Bulldogs (16-10), who grabbed the lead for good in a three-run second.
District 3-3A
Emma Knighten and Emily Brown both homered and Palatka (12-15) won a slugfest on their home diamond, 12-7 against Keystone Heights (12-12).
Palatka scored eight runs in the first two innings but had to hold off a comeback from the visitors. Keystone's Ashley Nugent went 3 for 4 with a home run and a double.
District 2-2A
Jessica Camacho struck out 12 batters and St. Joseph scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to seal a surprise district title, 15-2 against St. Johns Country Day (11-5).
Victoria Ashworth and Alexa Schenck each drove in three RBI for St. Joseph (7-9), which fought back from a 2-7 start to the season.
District 3-2A
The streak is nine district championships in a row for University Christian, overpowering Providence 10-0 behind Sophia Kardatzke's five-inning no-hitter.
Jaleigha Harris homered and doubled and Kate Dell'Alba doubled twice for UC, the reigning champion at Class 2A.
District 6-1A
Laila Arnold pitched a gem for Branford (21-6), allowing three hits and striking out 10 for a 3-1 win against Fort White (12-5).
Jesse Frierson doubled twice for Branford, which scored all three runs in the fourth. Kadence Compton struck out 13 in the circle for Fort White.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school softball: Northeast Florida district tournament recap
