JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first round of the high school baseball playoffs didn’t disappoint.
Headlined by one of the best all-around performances in area baseball history delivered by Bishop Snyder’s Aidan King and a pair of walk-off wins by Bishop Kenny and Trinity Christian, Wednesday was an unbelievable finish for the second of two nights in first round of the playoffs. Teams in Classes 1A, 5A, 6A and 7A played on Tuesday night.
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King, a University of Florida signee, fired a one-hitter and whiffed a staggering 20 batters in a 3-0 win over Providence in Region 1-3A. Not only did King handcuff Providence (13-12), a state semifinalist last year, he went 2 for 3 with a double and a home run to help send Snyder (19-8) on to a Saturday showdown against top-seeded Pensacola Catholic (27-1).
But his arm was the story in what has been a storied career. King’s 138 strikeouts are first in Florida and tied for eighth in the country. He has reached double-digit strikeout totals in nine games. Against perennial playoff power Providence, King faced just three batters over the minimum (walk, hit and hit by pitch) and remained unbelievably consistent even in an elimination game. He has walked just seven all season.
King’s big night was one of several exceptional finishes.
Bishop Kenny needed 11 innings for a dramatic win, with Joshmar Carbonell scoring on a wild pitch for a 5-4 win over Baker County in Region 1-4A. The Crusaders, the state runner-up last year under coach Tommy Edwards, will host Wakulla on Saturday.
Trinity Christian had its own theatrics in Region 1-3A, with Jordan Martinez driving in Brady Harris in the bottom of the eighth to squeeze past Trinity Catholic 4-3. Harris also belted a three-run homer while Brayden Harris struck out nine in the no decision to set up a showdown with Bolles in the second round on Saturday. The Bulldogs clubbed Episcopal 12-2.
Red-hot University Christian beat Oak Hall 5-4 to stretch the area’s longest winning streak to 10 games in Region 1-2A. The reward is a Saturday clash against Super 6 No. 1 and state championship contender St. Johns Country Day. The Spartans (21-6) got homers from Nick Bowden and Seth Alford to beat St. Francis 8-1. Jack Ensell tossed six innings and struck out 11 in the win. Also in 1-2A, Connor Lewis went 3 for 3 and knocked in a pair of runs as St. Joseph beat Christ’s Church 13-2. Aiden Torrez and Camden Biskup added three RBI apiece.
Wednesday’s results
Regional quarterfinals
Region 1-4A
(4) Wakulla 6, (5) Suwannee 5
(2) Bishop Kenny 5, (7) Baker County 4 (11 innings)
Region 1-3A
(1) Pensacola Catholic 5, (8) Keystone Heights 2
(4) Bishop Snyder 3, (5) Providence 0
(2) Trinity Christian 4, (7) Trinity Catholic 3 (8 innings)
(3) Bolles 12, (6) Episcopal 2
Region 1-2A
(1) St. Johns Country Day 8, (8) St. Francis 1
(4) University Christian 6, (5) Oak Hall 5
(3) St. Joseph 13, (6) Christ’s Church 2
Saturday’s games
Regional semifinals
Region 1-4A
(3) South Walton (18-10) at (2) Bishop Kenny (20-8)
Region 1-3A
(4) Bishop Snyder (19-8) at (1) Pensacola Catholic (27-1), 8 p.m.
(3) Bolles (21-7) at (2) Trinity Christian (22-6)
Region 1-2A
(4) University Christian (18-9) at (1) St. Johns Country Day (21-6)
(3) St. Joseph (20-8) at (2) Tallahassee North Florida Christian (18-6-2), 4 p.m.