Orlando area FHSAA baseball, softball regional semifinal preview
Kissimmee Osceola scored six runs in the final inning of a baseball playoff game Friday to extend its season in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A regional tournament.
The Kowboys rallied from three runs down to derail host Dr. Phillips 8-5 in the quarterfinal round after Blake Birchler drove in a pair of runs to tie the game in the top of the seventh with a hit to left field. The Panthers, who led 5-2 going into the final frame, entered regional play at No. 5 in the area Sentinel Super Six rankings.
Osceola is among 23 baseball and softball teams playing in regional semifinal games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Among those is Orangewood Christian’s baseball team, which had eight players log a hit during a 7-2 quarterfinal win against Real Life Christian. Lewai Mitchell, Andrew Anson and Noah Gammichia each scored two runs for the Rams.
A Sentinel Varsity baseball report over the weekend incorrectly credited Real Life with the victory. The Raptors were hampered by five errors in the loss.
Area baseball programs that remain in regional contention in Class 4A and 3A return to the field Tuesday. Class 7A and 2A games are scheduled for Wednesday. All softball regional semifinal contests are set for Tuesday.
Admission is $7 per session. All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Below are the pairings for baseball and softball regional semifinal games involving teams from Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties.
Baseball
Class 7A Region 1
Wednesday
Port Orange Spruce Creek (20-8) at Lake Mary (16-11)
Hagerty (16-11) at Lake Brantley (25-3), 6
Buzz: Lake Mary scored three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Spruce Creek 5-4 for the District 2 championship. The Hawks topped the Rams 4-2 on April 7. Sentinel Super Six No. 1 Lake Brantley and No. 3 Hagerty split two games last month with a combined 5-5 score.
Class 7A Region 2
Wednesday
Osceola (19-7) at Lake Nona (18-8)
Plant City Durant (20-5) at Sarasota Riverview (19-9)
Buzz: Lake Nona senior Edrian Paul Romero is batting .382 with 20 RBIs and 8 doubles for Lake Nona. The Lions defeated Osceola 3-0 for district title on April 30. Riverview entered regionals ranked No. 8 in FHSAA 7A power ratings.
Class 4A Region 2
Eustis (12-17) at Bishop Moore (13-12)
Brooksville Nature Coast (22-4) at Rockledge (24-2)
Buzz: Bishop Moore’s Sonny Rao entered regionals batting .432 on 28 hits (6 doubles, 5 home runs) with 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored. Scout Updike has struck out 74 batters in 52 innings for Eustis, which thumped Bishop Moore 11-1 on April 15. The Hornets prevailed 13-0 in a rematch for district title.
Class 3A Region 2
Ocala Trinity Catholic (18-9) at The First Academy (26-1)
Lakeland Christian (26-1) at Tampa Berkeley Prep (23-4)
Buzz: The First Academy owns a 0.92 team ERA and is batting .326 with 71 extra-base hits. That includes 16 home runs and 10 triples. Lakeland Christian entered the regionals at No. 1 in 3A in FHSAA power ratings. TFA ranked No. 5.
Class 2A Region 2
Wednesday
Mount Dora Christian (20-6) at Orangewood Christian (15-11)
Winter Haven All Saints Academy (16-7) at Seffner Christian (18-4-1), 4
Buzz: Mount Dora Christian defeated Orangewood 6-2 on March 5. The Rams won the rematch 9-1 at home on March 30. Ty’Quan Wiggins is batting .493 with 30 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits for Bulldogs.
Softball
Class 7A Region 1
Orange Park Oakleaf (17-9) at Orange City University (23-0), 5
Oviedo (19-5) at Lake Brantley (19-7)
Buzz: University, ranked No. 10 nationally last week by MaxPreps, has won six games by one run and 10 games via shutout. Oakleaf is batting .324 as a team with 86 extra-base hits. Sentinel Super Six No. 4 Lake Brantley defeated No. 6 Oviedo by a combined 17-2 score in two previous outings.
Class 7A Region 2
Lake Nona (18-6) at Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (13-5), 4:30
Palm Beach Gardens (18-4) at Lake Worth Park Vista (26-0)
Buzz: Lake Nona’s Avery Viancos is batting .565 with 20 RBIs, 10 triples and 42 runs scored. Treasure Coast carries a 1.20 team ERA. Park Vista (No. 4) and Palm Beach Gardens (No. 8) entered the regionals in the Top 10 of FHSAA 7A power ratings.
Class 7A Region 3
West Orange (16-12) at Clermont East Ridge (20-7)
Lithia Newsome (25-1) at Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (26-2)
Buzz: East Ridge won the previous two meetings by a combined 15-7 score. West Orange junior Ailey Schyck is batting .443 with 26 RBIs and 8 home runs. Newsome is the No. 1 team in FHSAA 7A power ratings. Lakewood Ranch ranks No. 3 behind Orange City University.
Class 6A Region 1
St. Johns Creekside (20-5) at Winter Springs (19-7)
Tallahassee Lincoln (16-6) at Tallahassee Chiles (14-6)
Buzz: Winter Springs, undefeated state champion in 2019, entered regionals ranked No. 4 in the FHSAA 6A power ratings. The Bears have won nine of their past 10 games since losing three in a row in early April. Creekside is batting .299 as a team with 42 doubles and 14 triples.
Class 4A Region 2
Eustis (23-1) at Rockledge (19-7)
Belleview (20-7) at Citrus (15-9)
Buzz: Eustis, the top-ranked team in FHSAA 4A power ratings, has won 16 games in a row since losing for the only time 5-4 vs. Winter Springs on March 11. The Panthers have outscored opposing teams 195-14. Rockledge entered regionals ranked No. 7 in 4A.
Class 3A Region 2
Pierson Taylor (19-3) at Windermere Prep (22-1), 4:30
Cornerstone Charter (12-12) at The First Academy (19-6), 6
Buzz: Windermere Prep, winner of 19 in a row since losing 4-2 vs. Tampa Berkeley Prep on Feb. 26, has outscored its opponents 210-9. TFA lost for the only time at home this season 4-2 to Berkeley Prep on Feb. 27. The Royals defeated Cornerstone 11-1 in the District 7 championship game.
Class 2A Region 2
Mount Dora Christian (18-8) at Orlando Christian Prep (16-7)
Melbourne Holy Trinity Episcopal (13-9) at Seffner Christian (17-6), 5
Buzz: Mount Dora Christian entered regionals ranked No. 5 while Seffner ranked No. 8 in FHSAA 2A power ratings. Three players have registered at least 36 hits for the Bulldogs, including Emily Allen, who has hit 9 home runs and scored 36 runs. OCP is batting .353 with 19 home runs as a team.
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
