Northeast Florida high school baseball regional finals: Last step before FHSAA final four

The Florida High School Athletic Association begins the third round of high school baseball playoffs across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, the last step before the final four.

In 2022, playoffs are staggered across different days and different classes, leading to a span of more than a week of state championships from May 18-21 and May 23-25 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

Bolles, Fleming Island and St. Johns Country Day reached the final four from Northeast Florida last year. Playing schedules are subject to change.

Regional finals

7 p.m. Tuesday unless noted

REGION 1-7A

Oviedo Hagerty (16-11) at Bartram Trail (21-8)

This is Bartram Trail's first regional final since 2015, when they defeated Oakleaf on a march that ultimately led to the title game against Venice. When the Bears are playing like this, they're tough for anyone in the Sunshine State to stop. Alex Lodise, Kolt Myers and Justin Nadeau all went deep Friday night to beat Apopka, and pitching is coming through as well: In their last 11 games, only St. Johns Country Day has scored more than three runs against the Bears. Hagerty is hot as well, winning six straight, and has a UCF-bound ace in Garrett Baumann (5-2, 1.48). The winner plays in the state semifinal Friday at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

How they got here: Bartram goes deep, Fort White in final four

REGION 1-4A

Bishop Kenny (21-6) at Suwannee (23-4)

Bishop Kenny has won its last 12. Suwannee has racked up 14 straight victories. One of those streaks ends Tuesday night in Live Oak. There's serious power in the lineup for the Bulldogs, who include six players with multiple home runs, led by Peyton Waters with five. Sophomore Camdon Frier might be among Northeast Florida's hottest players, with a seven-game hitting streak and a .538 batting average in that span. Andrew Tabor and Joshmar Carbonell ignite the top of the order for Bishop Kenny, which last qualified for the final four in 2008. The Crusaders have won five of the games in their winning streak by one or two runs. The winner heads to Fort Myers for a state semifinal on May 23.

How they got here: Bishop Kenny, Fernandina, SJCD advance in Saturday action

REGION 1-3A

Fernandina Beach (16-9) at The Villages Charter (19-7)

The Pirates and the Buffalo were the last two teams into the Region 1-3A playoffs, but one of them will be final four-bound. Fernandina Beach, in its first regional final since 2006 and seeking its first final four visit since 2003, is finding new power: The Pirates hit only three home runs in the regular season, but both Sean Benjamin and Jamieson Keith went deep against Ocala Trinity Catholic. Sophomore Caden Hartman is up to nine doubles. For The Villages, the game plan relies on pitching and defense, with a team ERA of 1.84 and a total of four runs allowed in May. The winner moves on to the state semifinals at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, scheduled for May 24.

REGION 1-2A

Tallahassee North Florida Christian (20-5) at St. Johns Country Day (23-4)

Only NFC, winner of four FHSAA titles, stands between the Spartans and a return trip to the final four. The bats are booming for the Spartans, including five combined RBI from Jordan Taylor and Tyce Moore in Saturday's 12-5 win over Trinity. St. Johns shut out NFC 4-0 at the same stage last spring on a combined shutout from Bradley Hodges and Finn Howell. But NFC can never be counted out. They demonstrated that again last week by fighting from six runs down to beat University Christian 8-6 in Saturday's regional semifinal, thanks to four RBI from Joshua Schuchts. The winner qualifies for a state semifinal on May 23 in Fort Myers.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school baseball: 2022 Jacksonville regional final previews Tuesday