Softball playoffs: Top seed Middleburg rallies past Columbia, Creekside tops Timber Creek
As the rain fell down and the numbers in the visiting run column piled up, Creekside never wavered from the course.
"Senior leadership," Creekside head coach Neil Luciano said. "That was huge for us."
Creekside scored in five consecutive innings and slammed the brakes on Timber Creek's comeback bid, winning 11-6 in Thursday's Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-7A softball quarterfinal.
Tampa-committed shortstop Bella Campbell homered for the Knights (21-5), who built a 6-1 lead until Timber Creek (18-8) roared back in the top of the fifth. An RBI double, an RBI single and then a two-run homer by Emma Pynes in steady rain slashed the lead to one.
But a message from Campbell immediately after the home run, Luciano said, revitalized the Knights.
"She said, 'Hey, listen, we're still ahead and we still have the lead. Lock down these next two outs,'" Luciano said. "And then she comes in and sets the tone."
Campbell followed with a hard-hit ground ball that led to an error — among six miscues on the night from the visitors — and brought home two runs in the bottom of the fifth, igniting a five-run frame as Creekside pulled away to set up a Tuesday game at Lake Brantley. Kaylee Martineau, Carly Dall and Presley Brinkley each tallied two hits for Creekside.
The year ended in regionals for Mandarin. Alexis Minaberry and Julie Kelley hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning, the first of Minaberry's two homers on the night, and Spruce Creek (20-3) beat the Mustangs 7-1. Shelby Ricketts drove in the only run for the Mustangs (15-9).
REGION 1-6A
Pitcher Charley Maddox went 3 for 4 with three RBI for Oakleaf, bouncing back from an early deficit to win 8-3 against Lake Howell (14-10). The visitors snatched an early 3-2 lead before the Knights responded in a three-run third. Camryn Beall and Meshayla Pettaway each drove in two runs, setting up a road trip to Oviedo Hagerty.
REGION 1-5A
Shut down for five innings by Columbia freshman ace Harleigh Price, No. 1 seed Middleburg finally broke out in a four-run sixth to win 4-1. Price carried a no-hitter into the sixth for Columbia (13-12), chasing her second no-no in two weeks. But Middleburg (22-4) came to life, jumping in front on Alyssa Prather's two-RBI double to set up a district rematch against surging Gainesville. Pitcher Morgan Beckham limited Columbia to four hits.
REGION 3-1A
Kadence Compton struck out 14 while firing a two-hitter for Fort White, winning 5-1 against Madison County (16-11). Compton also delivered the go-ahead RBI in the third for Fort White (13-5), which also got doubles from N'Coreyia Atkins and Morgan Kelly. They travel Tuesday to Branford for the regional final.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: FHSAA softball 2024: Northeast Florida first-round playoffs Thursday
