FHSAA SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: University, Matanzas, Taylor advance to regional semifinals

ORANGE CITY — University sought to make relatively quick work of St. Johns Bartram Trail on Thursday afternoon, but Mother Nature had other ideas. 

The Titans waited an hour due to lightning and a short storm cell before wrapping up a 9-1 home win against the Bears, extending their unbeaten record to 23-0.

Aminah Vega had four hits and scored a pair of runs, Annalyn Duncan went 3 for 4 and Grace Taylor struck out six Bears despite issuing five walks.

"Overall, I thought we did fine. After the rain delay, I don't think we had the proper time for our pitcher to warm up and we kind of went through the motions," University Head Coach Kenny Walters said. "We didn't finish the way we should have."

The Titans pounced for two runs in the first — courtesy of a Madde Jorczak single, and Caitlyn Porter scoring on a passed ball — before breaking the game open with four in the second. Vega, Duncan and Katie Vandehey had run-scoring hits.

University lost one of its key starters shortly after play resumed, though. Boston College commit Zoe Hines, the team's starting second baseman, exited with a left leg injury sustained in a collision at second base. Hines attempted to turn a double play before being caught by the sliding runner.

"Seeing someone that athletic get hurt sucks," Taylor said. "But I know she will get over it."

Walters said the injury would require stitches, making it possible Hines could return for Tuesday's semifinal against either Orange Park Oakleaf or Spruce Creek.

Mackenzie Williams had two hits in her final game for Bartram Trail, and Emma Morris contributed the lone RBI.

Middleburg 4, Deltona 2

Squandered early opportunities cost the Wolves when it counted.

Paige Amato slapped a go-ahead, two-run single in the fifth inning as Middleburg upended Deltona in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal. Keira Odom tacked on a sacrifice fly in the seventh for insurance as the Broncos advanced beyond the first round for the second consecutive postseason.

Deltona (10-11-2) stranded eight runners, beginning with a bases-loaded situation in the bottom half of the first.

"We just needed to move those runners, and we didn't," said sophomore shortstop Emily Donohue, who reached base safely three times and drove in a run. "I feel like we could have won this game. If we could have strung at-bats together, we could have totally made it."

Matanzas 1, Gainesville 0

Emma Wood did something few pitchers have done this season — shut down Gainesville High's powerful offense.

The junior pitcher handcuffed the Hurricanes with a mixture of pitches to help Matanzas stun Gainesville 1-0 in the first round of the Class 5A softball playoffs Thursday.

Wood wasn’t overpowering, finishing with six strikeouts, but she had the Hurricanes chasing numerous pitches out of the strike zone and guessing every pitch.

“Give her credit, she did a great job in the circle tonight, she did have us off balance and had a very good change-up,” Gainesville coach Chris Chronister said. “It doesn’t have to be a strike all the time, but once it’s in there occasionally, she did a good job of mixing it up and that makes all of her pitches more effective.”

Hurricanes junior pitcher Kyra Hornsby also produced a strong effort by keeping the Pirates (12-9) off the scoreboard for six of the seven innings. She couldn't come out of the third unscathed, however.

Jen Rumplick led off the inning with a double down the right-field line that just stayed fair and scored the game’s only run on a two-out single from Alyssa Payne.

Jacksonville University Christian 15, Father Lopez 0

For Sophia Kardatzke, two streaks are going strong.

The freshman pitcher extended her no-hitter streak to four games, not allowing a hit once more as University Christian cruised to a 15-0 shutout of Father Lopez (8-8).

Kardatzke also homered for the fifth consecutive game, connecting during a 14-run first inning for the Fighting Christians (15-2). She leads Northeast Florida with 10 home runs.

Mount Dora Christian 4, Trinity Christian 0

Freshman Brooke Moss went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, Sammi Thomas added a double and a run scored and Mount Dora Christian continued its dominance of Trinity Christian.

Nikki McDermott tallied a hit apiece for the Eagles, who finish with an 8-8 record. Christina Ortiz allowed 10 hits, two walks and four unearned runs.

Taylor advances via forfeit

Taylor advanced to the Region 2-3A semifinals Wednesday as its opponent, Montverde Academy, had to forfeit due to COVID-19 quarantine procedures.

FHSAA spokeswoman Ashton Moseley confirmed the forfeit since the "schools were unable to reschedule before the next round."

Taylor (19-3) will travel to Windermere Prep (22-1) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The host Lakers have outscored opponents 210-9 this spring.

Oakleaf, Spruce Creek postponed

Rain and unplayable field conditions forced a postponement of Thursday's Region 1-7A quarterfinal between Orange Park Oakleaf and Spruce Creek.

The game was rescheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, according to Oakleaf's athletics Twitter account.

— Clayton Freeman and Corey Davis contributed to this report.