Playing high school baseball this late in May is not only a privilege, but it’s a testament to the remaining programs. It means they’ve put together a quality ball club that’s capable of competing for state championships.
Here in the Gainesville area, four baseball teams can brag about that distinction.
Buchholz, Lake City Columbia, Lafayette and Newberry are still practicing as they prepare for the next steps toward hoisting an FHSAA state championship trophy over their heads.
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High school baseball:Four storylines for the area’s four district champions
Here’s a look at how each team got here and what lies ahead.
Buchholz Bobcats
RECORD: 21-6
CLASSIFICATION: Region 1-6A
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The second-seeded Bobcats topped the third-seeded Mosley Dolphins 7-2 in the region semifinal on May 13.
![Buchholz Bobcats pitcher Anthony Wilkie (21) winds up to pitch during the game against the Gulf Breeze Dolphins at the 2023 FHSAA Baseball State Championships 6A Regional Quarterfinal at Bobcat Park at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2023/05/11/NTGS/546fe6e0-aa7c-4357-b803-a6363663cb3e-FLGAI-051023-HSBB-BuchholzVsGulfBreeze-0151-MattPendleton.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
WHAT LIES AHEAD: The Bobcats are set to see the region’s dark horse in eighth-seeded Winter Springs, which has already stunned the region’s top seed in Pace and No. 5 Leon. Winter Springs and its high-powered offense scored a combined 24 runs in its last two games as junior Sam Downey has been a tough out and the Bears’ lineup has smacked four home runs in the playoffs. Should Buchholz top Winter Springs Tuesday at 7 p.m. from its home field, the Bobcats will punch their ticket to the state semifinals in Fort Myers.
Lake City Columbia Tigers
RECORD: 23-5
CLASSIFICATION: Region 1-5A
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The second-seeded Tigers and their seventh-inning magic topped the third-seeded Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans 8-4 in the region semifinal on May 13.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: Columbia draws a date with the Clay Blue Devils, who were given the No. 1 seed in the region despite not winning their district − a move that left the Tigers feeling slighted. Nonetheless, Clay has lived up to its No. 1 distinction and has defeated No. 8 Escambia 11-5 and No. 4 Ridgeview 5-3. In their win over Escambia, the Blue Devils scattered 11 hits with the top three batters in the lineup each recording multi-hit performances. Meanwhile, Clay pitched by committee and still managed to tally 12 strikeouts, a testament to its deep bullpen. A win against Clay on Tuesday night in Green Cove Springs would send Columbia back to Fort Myers for the second year in a row.
Lafayette Hornets
RECORD: 21-4
CLASSIFICATION: Region 3-1A
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The top-seeded Hornets are coming off another lopsided victory as they eliminated No. 2 Union County 14-3 in the region final on May 13.
![Lafayett Hornets Dawson Mock (25) tries to tag Gainesville Hurricanes Bennett Bruggeman (19) out at second as he successfully steals second. Gainesville hosted Lafayette in baseball at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, FL on Friday, April 28, 2023. Gainesville defeated Lafayette 2-1 in seven innings. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2023/04/29/NTGS/31b7258f-adea-406d-adf9-d7901175b08b-FLGAI-043023-LAF_GHS_BASEBALL-0190-DE.jpg?width=660&height=393&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
WHAT LIES AHEAD: After easing through the bracket so far, Lafayette kept its No. 1 seed after Class 1A’s remaining four teams were reseeded for the state semifinals in Fort Myers. There, the Hornets will see the fourth-seeded Holmes County Blue Devils, who won last season’s state crown with a win over Bozeman. Nothing has come easy for Holmes County as it’s required eight innings to win its last two games. The Blue Devils went on to beat Northview 3-2 and 9-7 to reach the state semifinal. Statistically, nothing jumps off the page about the 11-18 Blue Devils. However, winning back-to-back extra-inning playoff games means the Hornets are likely meeting with a gutsy ball club that’s not a stranger to Fort Myers’ big stage. Lafayette and Holmes County will square off Wednesday at 1 p.m. from Hammond Stadium with a trip to the title game on the line.
Newberry Panthers
RECORD: 16-8
CLASSIFICATION: Region 4-1A
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Touted as the top-seeded team in its region, Newberry came from behind to beat Chiefland 7-4 in the region final on May 13.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: After the four remaining teams were reseeded for the semifinals, the Panthers grabbed the No. 2 seed, giving them a meeting with the third-seeded Chipley Tigers, who have won a pair of tightly contested, low-scoring affairs against Port St. Joe and Bozeman. The Tigers held both teams to one run as Chipley flexes a well-rounded bullpen that features a pair of leaders in seniors Neal Adams (46 IP, 0.76 ERA, 68 strikeouts) and Bryson Goddin (57.2 IP, 1.82 ERA, 93 strikeouts). Newberry and Chipley will meet in Fort Myers’ Hammond Stadium on Wednesday at 10 a.m. as both look to punch their ticket to the state championship game.