JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first round of the high school softball playoffs are in the books, with Creekside, Fort White, Middleburg and Oakleaf all moving on to the next round. They join seven other teams in the second round who won their openers a night earlier.
Alyssa Prather drove in a pair of runs as top-seeded Middleburg overcame an excellent game in the circle from Columbia freshman Harleigh Price in a 4-1 win in Region 1-5A. Price whiffed 10 in 5.2 innings for the Tigers. The Broncos (22-4) host Gainesville in the second round on Tuesday.
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Bella Campbell knocked in three runs and Cora Middleton added two RBI as Creekside blew open a tight game with a five-run fifth inning to beat Timber Creek 11-6 in Region 1-7A. Campbell, Middleton, Kaylee Martineau, Presley Brinkley and Carly Dall all had multi-hit games for the Knights (21-5) turned a 6-5 game into a runaway. They move on to face Lake Brantley next week.
Charlotte Maddox had a monster game, driving in three with a three-hit night and striking out six in the circle to lead Oakleaf to an 8-3 win over Lake Howell 8-3 in Region 1-6A. Avery Garcia and Avery Tolbert had two hits apiece for the Knights (18-8), who visit Hagerty in the second round.
Kadence Compton and Morgan Kelly had two hits apiece for Fort White in a 5-1 win over Madison County in Region 3-1. Compton also starred in the circle, striking out 14 in a two-hit effort. The Indians face top-seeded Branford in next week’s regional final.
Thursday’s results
Regional quarterfinals
Region 1-7A
(1) Spruce Creek 7, (8) Mandarin 1
(3) Creekside 11, (6) Timber Creek 6
Region 1-6A
(3) Oakleaf 8, (6) Lake Howell 3
Region 1-5A
(1) Middleburg 4, (8) Columbia 1
(2) Fort Walton Beach 3, (7) Fleming Island 1
(3) Gulf Breeze 2, (6) Matanzas 0
Regional semifinals
Region 3-1A
(2) Fort White 5, (3) Madison County 1
Tuesday’s games
Regional semifinals
Region 1-7A
(3) Creekside (21-5) at (2) Lake Brantley (17-8)
Region 1-6A
(3) Oakleaf (18-8) at (2) Hagerty (22-5)
Region 1-5A
(4) Gainesville (21-4) at (1) Middleburg (22-4)
Region 1-4A
(6) South Walton (10-10) at (2) Baker County (18-5)
Region 1-3A
(5) Marianna (17-8) at (1) Baldwin (27-1)
(3) West Nassau (17-8) at (2) Episcopal (24-3)
Region 1-2A
(4) Trinity Christian (9-12) at (1) University Christian (16-7)
(6) North Florida Christian (9-14) at (2) Providence (10-12)
Regional finals
Region 3-1A
(2) Fort White (13-5) at (1) Branford (22-6)