South Fork baseball, softball, Treasure Coast softball advance to regional semifinals

The bus ride back up to Sebastian River for the South Fork baseball team took longer than the amount of time it took for the Bulldogs to keep their season going.

Having to return to the field to earn eight outs after a weather delay the previous night, freshman reliever Conner Wiggins nailed down South Fork's spot in a 4A-5 regional semifinal as the Bulldogs bounced the Sharks from the postseason with a 6-1 victory.

Thunderstorms that pushed a total of five scheduled games Thursday to Friday forced the halt of the game in Sebastian to be completed as the Sharks didn't finish their at-bats in the fifth inning.

With Wiggins entering the game in relief for South Fork starter Bryce Saylor, and only throwing to three batters in the fifth Thursday, he was more than fresh enough Friday to take the ball and attempt to finish the game as the duo allowed just four hits.

"We pitched the ball very well, walks were at a minimum," South Fork head coach Tony Malizia said. "Andrew (Anderson) had a big two-out hit yesterday and Tyler (Graham) did as well and you need those in the playoffs. Our guys battled, Bryce pitched well and Conner came in and did his job."

Graham's RBI single in the first inning gave the Bulldogs (9-13) an early lead and Anderson's two-run double as part of a three-run second inning helped South Fork grab a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Despite the finish to their season, Sharks head coach Todd Holden after seeing his team win the program's first district title in 13 years couldn't have been more happy with what his team accomplished.

"I told them after the game two things, to remind them they won more games this year than the last two seasons combined and that you're district champions and they'll never take that away from them," Holden said. "I told them I loved them and I appreciated having the opportunity to have the season with them."

South Fork will travel to Melbourne to take on Eau Gallie High, which knocked off Okeechobee 12-4 in their regional semifinal matchup, on May 11.

Region 3-5A Softball

South Fork 4, Eau Gallie 1

Katie Kidwell's two-run double keyed a four-run fifth inning, and Kidwell was also sharp on the mound to lead South Fork past Eau Gallie.

The right-hander struck out five in a complete-game effort to earn the win for the Bulldogs (13-11).

Kidwell's two-run double was sandwiched between RBI hits from Taylor Buerrier and Sophia Turull.

In the seventh, Kidwell escaped a bases-loaded jam as she allowed an unearned run to come home but locked down the Bulldogs' spot in the regional semifinals.

Abbey Moore collected two hits for South Fork, which will travel to play Bayside on May 11 after the Bears defeated Okeechobee 2-1 in their regional quarterfinal.

Region 2-7A Softball

Treasure Coast 15, Freedom 5 (6 innings)

Treasure Coast scored nine unanswered runs in the final three innings to cruise past Centennial and on to the regional semifinals.

Leading 6-5, the Titans scored two runs in the fifth and seven in the sixth to end the game early.

Six Titan errors allowed the Patriots to hang around early, but the Treasure Coast bats were just too hot.

The Titans (13-5) had 16 hits with three players collecting three hits apiece.

Emma Kohler went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI, Brittney Vincens went 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored three runs and Savannah McMichael went 3-for-4 with a solo home run.

Alexa Bethel struck out eight in four innings and Cassidy Curd fanned five in two innings of relief for Treasure Coast.

Treasure Coast will next host Lake Nona on May 11.

Region 3-7A Baseball

Palm Beach Central 3, Vero Beach 0

Miscues in the field and on the base paths doomed Vero Beach as Palm Beach Central advanced to a regional semifinal with pitchers David Doumis and Samuel Orozco combining for a shutout.

Three straight singles off Vero starter and Elon signee Jake Nolan put Palm Beach Central in the driver's seat. Nolan struck out Brody Gullo and coaxed a ground ball off the bat of Cam Smith to shortstop that appeared to get Nolan out of the jam, but the throw to first to complete a potential double play was mishandled to allow two Bronco runs to score.

Doumis added an RBI single in the seventh as the Broncos will face off against Palm Beach Gardens on May 12.

Nolan struck out eight for Vero (22-2) but was tagged with his first loss of the season as the right-hander finished the year 11-1 with an 0.88 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 71 ⅔ innings.

Region 4-6A Baseball

St. Thomas Aquinas 4, Martin County 1

Tyler Murphy's solo home run in the second inning was all Martin County could muster as St. Thomas Aquinas received home runs from Vincent Mingarelli and Daniel Cuvet to end the Tigers' season.

Murphy's homer was the only hit Martin County got off Raiders starter Darius Robinson, who struck out seven in 5 ⅓ innings. Reliever Michael Bollinger went the rest of the way for St. Thomas Aquinas, striking out three.

Martin County finishes the season at 21-5.

Region 2-7A Baseball

Palm Beach Gardens 1, Treasure Coast 0

A sacrifice fly from Palm Beach Gardens' Billy Reid stood up as the lone run of the game as Treasure Coast was knocked out by Palm Beach Gardens in a pitcher's duel.

Treasure Coast senior lefty Jaden Paradoa matched up with right-hander and Stetson signee Dom Stagliano.

Nick Polanco collected the only hit of the night for the Titans (11-9) as Stagliano went the distance, striking out 10.

Paradoa threw five innings, with reliever Jeffrey Gonzalez tossing a scoreless inning as the duo allowed just three hits to the Gator lineup.

Palm Beach Gardens will host Palm Beach Central in a regional semifinal on May 12.

Region 4-4A Baseball

Plantation American Heritage 1, Jensen Beach 0

Vanderbilt signee Devin Futrell was an out away from a no-hitter, but settled for a one-hit shutout, striking out 15 to lead the Patriots to a victory and spot in the regional semifinals.

Chris Knier's single to center gave the Falcons (16-8) only its third baserunner they had all evening, but Jensen Beach couldn't solve Futrell, who was staked to the lead with Mateo Serna's sacrifice fly in the second the run.

Egan Keeler gave up two hits in four innings, striking out three and Austin Trumpour struck out five in two scoreless innings for Jensen Beach.

Region 4-5A Baseball

Eau Gallie 12, Okeechobee 4

William Hagen went 2-for-4 with three RBI and pitched 4 ⅔ innings to earn the win as Eau Gallie scored four runs in the fifth and six in the sixth to eliminate Okeechobee.

Jacob Hardy allowed two earned runs in five innings and struck out eight and went 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Brahmans, who end their season with a record of 11-9.

Region 3-5A Softball

Bayside 2, Okeechobee 1

Syd Palmer went 2-for-3 and drove in both runs for Bayside and threw a complete-game, striking out six and allowing an unearned run to help the Bears defeat Okeechobee 2-1.

Morgan Hancock had two hits for the Brahmans, who finished their season at 9-5.