Softball regional final recaps: Baldwin, University Christian bound for FHSAA final four
This time, Baldwin made sure not to wait for the bats to wake up.
Striking quickly for three first-inning runs, Baldwin came out on top in a battle of giants, overcoming visiting Episcopal 4-2 in Friday night's Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-3A softball final to write one more chapter in a classic First Coast rivalry.
For Baldwin (29-1), victory means another shot at the final four next week at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont, where they will play a semifinal on Tuesday against Clearwater Calvary Christian.
Sophomore slugger Jazmine Ramos-Merced delivered her latest home run, a two-run shot in the first inning after Riley Page's RBI single, for a three-run cushion against Episcopal (25-4) and 1,000-strikeout ace Grace Jones.
Chelsea Dever's home run was the highlight for the Eagles, who got runners on base in each inning but struggled to capitalize against Baldwin starter Shaylen Byrd. The senior struck out nine and relied on two strikeouts to escape a tricky jam in the sixth when Claire Cinnamond hit a leadoff triple.
As in the district final two weeks ago, an extra-inning thriller that Baldwin won 2-1 after five scoreless frames, they continued their strategy of walking Episcopal's .600 hitter Jones up until her final at-bat, when she swatted a solo homer in the seventh.
Page, Ramos-Merced and Sunshine State runs leader Amiyah Jones each got two hits for Baldwin.
REGION 1-2A
The repeat hopes are alive and well at University Christian.
Lydia Smith went 4 for 4 with a pair of RBI, senior Jaleigha Harris bashed a home run and reigning Class 2A champion University Christian pulled clear late for a 12-2 run-rule win over Providence (11-13).
They'll next head to Clermont to meet Fort Pierce John Carroll Catholic in a Tuesday Class 2A state semifinal, one year after beating Evangelical Christian in the 2023 title game for UC's first championship.
USC Upstate pitching signee Sophia Kardatzke, whose sacrifice fly started the scoring in the first inning, struck out 10 and reached base three times for UC (18-7). A three-run fifth inning and a four-run sixth removed any doubts, punishing nine walks from Stallions pitchers.
Sophomore Summer Stearns doubled and drove in both runs for Providence.
The bottom of the order came through for UC, with Elissa Murdock went 2 for 3 and sixth-graders Smith and Mila Lackowski combining for five runs batted in.
In all, three Northeast Florida teams will be competing in Clermont. Baker County qualified from Class 4A by defeating Wakulla on Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: FHSAA high school softball 2024: Jacksonville regional final recaps
