Softball districts: University Christian, Baldwin, Creekside, Oakleaf win tournaments

A quick five-run lead was more than enough for Sophia Kardatzke.

"We just get the momentum going," the junior pitcher said, "and just build it from there."

The Fighting Christians continued their buzzsaw spring of success Thursday night, beating host Providence 7-0 for the Florida High School Athletic Association District 3-2A softball tournament.

Kardatzke, whose season stats are staggering once more (.691 batting average, 12 doubles, six homers, 46 RBI, plus a 1.36 ERA and 173 strikeouts as a pitcher), struck out 14 batters in a three-hitter.

Jahliyah Robinson, Jaleigha Harris and Kyla Bennett all doubled for UC (18-2), a final-four squad in each of the last two seasons, as the visitors scored in each of the first four innings.

Beating Providence (17-5) continued a dizzying month for UC. They've won 11 in a row, including wins over district champions Baker County, Creekside, Baldwin and Keystone Heights, plus two wins over perennial challenger West Nassau.

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DISTRICT 1-7A

Kaylee Martineau reached base four times and pitched a three-hitter in the circle, leading Creekside to a 9-1 win over Mandarin (15-10).

For Creekside (19-6), Carly Dall scored three runs and Bella Campbell knocked in two RBI.

DISTRICT 3-6A

Oakleaf continued its playoff streak, riding a five-hit shutout by Charlotte Maddox for a 7-0 win over visiting Nease (8-15).

Amya Mirelez homered for Oakleaf (10-11), which built a six-run lead by the third inning.

DISTRICT 2-5A

Saige Bialek's four-hit shutout brought Ridgeview a district championship in a 2-0 win over Columbia (16-7).

Haylee McCrea doubled for the Panthers (17-6), who scored in the second and sixth innings.

DISTRICT 3-5A

Caiden Oliva's walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh lifted Ponte Vedra (17-6) to the district title, 4-3 over third-seeded Fleming Island (10-15).

DISTRICT 2-4A

Back-to-back RBI doubles by Kalin Davis and Haley Marker powered Baker County to a first-inning lead on the road to a 6-1 win at Paxon (16-7).

Freshman Baleigh Shields homered for the Wildcats (17-9), while Rylee Walker and Chloe Woods combined to limit the Golden Eagles to five hits.

DISTRICT 3-4A

Jacksonville ERA leader Kaitlyn Gilmore supplied the district-winning single to center in the bottom of the eighth, leading Bishop Kenny in a 3-2 win over Yulee (8-19).

Gilmore also struck out 12 for the Crusaders (13-12). Ava Martyn doubled for Yulee, which took a fourth inning lead that held up until Kaley Blackburn's RBI double in the sixth.

DISTRICT 4-4A

Ava Millet's RBI double in the seventh helped power Tocoi Creek (9-15) to a 6-5 win over top-seeded Menendez (13-9).

Jacksonville University signee Tatum McCool and Yanelly Hernandez both homered for the Toros, who scored five of their six runs in the last three innings.

DISTRICT 3-3A

Kadence Massey-Hoadley pitched a one-hit shutout to continue Keystone Heights' late-season surge with a 10-0 rout of Pierson Taylor (14-10).

Third-seeded Keystone (9-17) got four RBI from catcher Amberlea Wagner, while Abbie Roach tripled with two RBI.

DISTRICT 4-3A

Chloe Gotto's squeeze bunt and Kendall North's RBI single pushed Baldwin in front of Episcopal in the sixth inning, winning 4-2 in a battle of giants.

Shaylen Byrd delivered in the circle and at the plate, striking out 11 in a two-hitter and contributing two RBI for Baldwin (22-4). For the Eagles (20-4), Grace Jones struck out 14, while Blair Baldwin hit a two-RBI double in the second.

DISTRICT 2-2A

Maddie Lasater and Ayanna Whitaker combined on a five-inning no-hitter for Trinity Christian, rolling 15-1 past Bishop Snyder (10-14).

Kadriana Mincey homered and knocked in four runs for the Conquerors (6-12), who rebounded from a winless opening month to capture the district.

DISTRICT 4-2A

Alexis Wallace pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 12, leading Peniel Baptist in a 7-0 shutout of Father Lopez (8-12-1). The Warriors (15-7) also got a double and two RBI from Brook Williams.

DISTRICT 5-1A

Harli Ray's RBI double in the sixth inning gave Aucilla Christian (13-7) a 3-2 win over Hilliard.

Veronica Flynn struck out 12 batters in a three-hitter for Hilliard (12-7), and Delaney Vennard was 3 for 3 at the plate.

DISTRICT 6-1A

Kadence Compton pitched a three-hit shutout and Fort White turned the tables against top-seeded Branford (22-4), winning 7-0.

Fort White (10-9), a final-four qualifier last year, surged ahead with seven runs in the middle innings, including three RBI from Gracie Clemons.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school softball 2023: Northeast Florida district tournament wrap