Bishop Snyder didn’t need extra innings this time.
The Cardinals took advantage of six Trinity Christian errors and beat the host Conquerors 9-2 in the opening game of the Region 1-2A final on Friday night. Snyder hurlers combined for 11 strikeouts in the win. The Cardinals lost in the regional final at Trinity Christian two years ago when it was a single-game format, then dropped the district championship game late last month in a 13-inning thriller.
A win on Saturday would send Trinity, last year’s Class 1A state runner-up, home for the season and put the Cardinals in their first state semifinal. Brady Harris homered and had both RBI for Trinity. Landis Pickett drove in two runs for Snyder.
In Region 1-1A, reigning Varsity 4 and All-News4JAX player of the year Brayden Harris continued his playoff dominance with 15 Ks in a two-hitter as St. Johns Country Day beat St. John Paul II 5-1 in the opening game of the series. Preston Cole homered twice and drove in three runs, and Madden Williams doubled twice. Harris surpassed the 500-career strikeout barrier in the win. He’s whiffed 511 in his five-year career (Harris pitched in eighth grade).
In Region 1-4A, Clay’s Rylan McMahan locked down top-seeded Choctawhatchee, whiffing 16 in 5.2 innings and allowing just one hit in a 9-2 win. Clayton Hickey and JC Rosette added two hits apiece, and Caden Looney drove in three. The Blue Devils will try and finish the upset on Saturday.
Regional finals
Friday, May 8/Saturday May 9 (best of 3 series)
Region 1-4A
Game 1: (3) Clay 1, (1) Choctawhatchee 0 (9-2)
Game 2: (3) Clay (18-13) at (1) Choctawhatchee (25-7)
Game 3: TBA
Region 1-3A
Games 1/2: (1) South Walton 2, (3) Suwannee 0 (2-1, 10-0)
Region 1-2A
Game 1: (2) Bishop Snyder 8, (1) Trinity Christian 2
Game 2: (2) Bishop Snyder (23-6) at (1) Trinity Christian (22-8), 1 p.m.
Game 3: TBA
Region 1-1A
Game 1: (1) St. Johns Country Day 5, (3) St. John Paul II 1
Game 2: (3) St. John Paul II (18-9) at (1) St. Johns Country Day (23-8), 11 a.m.
Game 3: TBA
Rural
Game 1: (1) Union County 14, (3) Lafayette 3
Game 2: (3) Lafayette (16-11) at (1) Union County (21-7)
Game 3: TBA
Regional semifinals
Region 1-6A
Friday, May 1 (best of 3); games 2 and 3 (if necessary) on Saturday
(1) Pace 2, (5) Tocoi Creek 0 (12-2, 7-2)
(2) Buchholz 2, (6) Oakleaf 0 (5-3, 7-1)
Region 1-4A
(1) Choctawhatchee 2, (5) St. Augustine 1 (2-3, 4-1, 4-1)
(3) Clay 2, (7) Escambia 0 (5-0; 8-1)
Region 1-3A
(3) Suwannee 2, (2) Fernandina Beach 1, (12-0, 3-4, 5-1)
Region 1-2A
(1) Trinity Christian 2, (4) Trinity Catholic 0 (5-0, 9-6)
(2) Bishop Snyder 2, (3) Bolles 0 (8-5, 10-0)
Region 1-1A
(1) St. Johns Country Day 2, (4) University Christian 0 (4-2, 8-2)
(3) St. John Paul II 2, (7) Covenant School of Jacksonville 0 (7-6, 7-2)
Rural
Friday, May 1 (best of 3); games 2 and 3 (if necessary) on Saturday
(1) Union County 2, (4) Madison County 0 (7-6, 10-7)
Regional quarterfinals
Region 1-7A
Friday, April 24 results (single elimination)
(8) Lake Mary 6, (1) Creekside 3
(4) West Orange 4, (5) Sandalwood 1
(2) Spruce Creek 11, (7) Flagler Palm Coast 1
Region 1-6A
(5) Tocoi Creek 2, (4) Tate 1
(2) Buchholz 12, (7) Mandarin 2
(6) Oakleaf 12, (3) Bartram Trail 2, Thursday
Region 1-5A
(1) Chiles 5, (8) Ponte Vedra 3
(2) Niceville 3, (7) Beachside 2
(3) Mosley 5, (6) Columbia 2
Region 1-4A
(1) Choctawhatchee 9, (8) Baker County 0
(5) St. Augustine 10, (4) Arnold 6
(7) Escambia 3, (2) Bishop Kenny 1
(3) Clay 4, (6) Wakulla 0
Region 1-3A
Saturday, April 25 results
(1) South Walton 13, (8) Wolfson 0
(4) West Florida 1, (5) Baldwin 0
(2) Fernandina Beach 10, (7) Bay 0
(3) Suwannee 12, (6) West Nassau 1
Region 2-3A
(4) South Sumter 12, (5) Palatka 0
Region 1-2A
(1) Trinity Christian 6, (8) Florida High 3
(2) Bishop Snyder 9, (7) Providence 5
(3) Bolles 6, (6) Pensacola Catholic 5
Class 1A
(1) St. Johns Country Day 15, (8) Rocky Bayou Christian 0
(4) University Christian 6, (5) North Florida Christian 2
(7) Covenant School of Jacksonville 10, (2) St. Joseph 5
(6) Christ’s Church Academy (13-13) at (3) St. John Paul II (15-8), postponed to April 27