This Tuesday, June 11, Oakleaf High School in Orange Park and “The Prep Zone” will host the inaugural North Florida All-Star Softball games featuring four teams from four regions that comprise The Prep Zone’s coverage area (26 counties ranging from Duval County down to Lake County). The South team represents the area from Alachua County south to Marion and Lake Counties.
The South will be led by Eustis head coach Brittany Beall, who led the Panthers to a 26-2 record this season and an appearance in the 5A region semifinals. Beall took the Panthers to a 5A state runner-up finish in 2017. Lake Weir (Ocala) head coach Brandon Surber will assist Beall for the South squad. Surber skippered the Hurricanes to their first regional playoff appearances in five years in 2019.
Beall has two of her own seniors leading the South team in Kayla Betts and Leea Hanks. Betts, a St. Leo signee, was the ace for the Panthers in 2019 with an ERA under one run per game, and Hanks, who has signed to play for Notre Dame, batted .625 with 55 hits and 39 RBI for Eustis in 2019.
Santa Fe (Alachua), which advanced to the 5A regional finals, is represented by UNF signee pitcher Hailey Raulerson, and teammate Courtney Robinson, who will be playing her college ball at Flagler College in St. Augustine.
Belleview won 22 games and advanced to the regional semifinals in 6A this season, and also has two players on the South team led by Trinity Girovasi, a South Florida State College signee, and Kierstyn Kohlmaier, who will play her college ball at Lake Sumter State College.
Lake Weir also has three players on the squad, led by Elayna Berry, while Buchholz (Gainesville) placed two players on the team. Alabama State signee Drew Wrask hit .491 with 31 RBI for the Bobcats in 2019.
The South will play the West All-Stars at Noon on Tuesday, preceded by the North against the East at 10 AM. The winners of the first two games will play for the championship at 5 PM, with the losers playing for third place at 3 PM.
SOUTH ROSTER
#1 Courtney Robinson (Alachua Santa Fe) SS/2B – Signed with Flagler College
Batted .309 with 29 hits, 16 runs, 17 RBI and 3 doubles #2 Bailey Bates (Clermont East Ridge) SS/C – Signed with Holy Cross
Batted .327 with a team-high 38 RBI, 4 homers, 27 runs, and 33 hits #3 Kayla Betts (Eustis) P/2B/OF – Signed with St. Leo
Batted .456 with 41 hits, 28 runs, 18 RBI, and 10 doubles. ERA under 1.00 with 139 K’s and 23 BB’s #4 Elayna Berry (Ocala Lake Weir) 1B
Batted .282 with 22 hits, 22 runs, and 8 RBI #6 Kierstyn Kohlmaier (Belleview) 1B/CF/UT – Signed with Lake Sumter State College
Batted .398 with 33 hits, 32 runs, 22 RBI, and 12 doubles #7 Leea Hanks (Eustis) OF – Signed with Notre Dame
Batted .625 with team-high 55 hits, 39 runs, 39 RBI, and 5 home runs #8 Jenna Smith (Gainesville Buchholz) CF/OF
Batted .367 with 22 hits, 21 runs, and 11 RBI #9 Drew Wrask (Gainesville Buchholz) 1B/INF – signed with Alabama State
Batted team-high .491 with 31 RBI, 28 hits, and 15 runs #12 Trinity Girovasi (Belleview) 3B/C- signed with South Florida State College
Batted .365 with 27 hits and 22 RBI #14 Hannah Malloy (Ocala Lake Weir) OF
Batted .246 with 17 hits and 19 runs scored #15 McKenzie Jones (Deltona) OF/SS
Batted .338 with 22 hits, 23 runs, and 24 RBI #16 Hailey Raulerson (Alachua Santa Fe) P – signed with UNF
Batted .302 with team-high 30 RBI, also 26 hits and 4 doubles. 12-6 with a 0.80 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 131.1 innings #32 Shelby Sparkman (Gainesville P.K. Yonge) C/SS/CF
Batted .400 with 29 runs, 24 hits, and 15 RBI #91 Armya “Cookie” Taylor (Ocala Lake Weir) OF
10 stolen bases, 9 runs
GAINESVILLE (June 10) — The nine individual class finalists for the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Baseball and Baseball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school baseball coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Following are the 2019 Mr. Baseball Award finalists (area winners in bold)
Matthew Allan, Senior, Pitcher, Seminole, Class 9A Player of the Year
Led his school to its first state title with an 8-2 record, a 1.20 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Threw a perfect game with 17 strikeouts in district semifinal. Signed with the University of Florida. Picked in the third round of the MLB draft by the New York Mets.
Parker Messick, Senior, Pitcher, Plant City, Class 8A Player of the Year
The Florida State signee led his school to the state title with an 11-1 record, posting a 1.06 ERA with 125 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 86 innings pitched. In regional final and state semifinal wins, threw 14 shutout innings, giving up only four hits and striking out 24 batters. Also hit .319 with 18 runs batted in, nine doubles and two home runs.
Jackson Miller, Junior, Pitcher/Third Baseman, Mitchell, Class 7A Player of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-0 regular-season record with a 9-1 record and an 0.67 ERA. Had 81 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 63 innings pitched. Hit .464 with 28 runs scored and 32 runs batted in. Has committed to Wake Forest University.
Camden Minacci, Junior, Pitcher, Jesuit, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship with a 12-1 record and a 1.12 ERA. Had 85 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. Has committed to Wake Forest University.
Nick Durgin, Senior, Pitcher/Shortstop, Melbourne Central Catholic, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his squad to the state title with a 9-1 record and an 0.31 ERA, allowing only three earned runs in 67 innings pitched while striking out 108 batters. Threw a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in the state semifinal. Has committed to Stetson University.
Nolan Hudl, Senior, Pitcher, Clearwater Calvary Christian, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship game with an 11-1 record and an 0.68 ERA, striking out 107 batters with only 11 walks in 62 innings pitched. Hit .338 with 17 runs batted in. Signed with Texas Christian University.
Brandon Walker, Senior, Pitcher/Utility, North Florida Christian, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led his team to the Final Four with an 8-2 record and a 1.00 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 63 innings pitched. Hit .341 with seven doubles, five home runs and 27 runs batted in. Signed with Florida State University.
Carson Pillsbury, Junior, Pitcher/Utility, Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto), Class 2A Player of the Year
Following in the footsteps of his brother Parker, the 2018 Class 2A POY, Carson compiled a 4-0 record with 74 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. He hit .473 with eight doubles, six home runs and 46 runs batted in.
Cade Parker, Senior, Pitcher, Bozeman, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state Final Four with a 9-2 record and a 1.05 ERA, striking out 91 hitters in 67 innings pitched. Hit .382 with 43 runs scored and 23 runs batted in. Has signed with Florida Atlantic University.
Following are the 2019 Baseball Coach of the Year finalists:
Kenne Brown, Seminole, Class 9A Coach of the Year
In his first year as head coach, led his squad to a 23-9 record and the school’s first Final Four appearance since 1992, culminating in Seminole’s first state baseball championship.
Michael Fryrear, Plant City, Class 8A Coach of the Year
In his seventh year at Plant City, Fryrear led the school to a 30-2 record and the state championship. He has a career record of 106-66.
Craig Faulkner, Venice, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led Venice to a 27-6 record and its sixth state title in the past 12 years. He has been to the Final Four seven of the past eight years and has posted a 456-178 record in his 24-year head coaching career.
Miguel Menendez, Jesuit, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 27-5 record and the Class 6A state title. In five years at Jesuit, Menendez has a 114-37 record with a state runnerup finish in 2017. His overall record in 13 years as a head coach is 243-127.
Tom Dooley, Melbourne Central Catholic, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 25-6 record and the state title. In 31 years at the school, Dooley has a pair of state titles (2013, 2019) another Final Four appearance (2016) and an overall record of 584-235.
Carm Mazza, American Heritage-Delray, Class 4A Coach of the Year
In his 21st year at the school, Mazza led his team to a 29-3 record and his first state title. His overall record of 435-167 includes a state runnerup finish (2012) and three other Final Four appearances (2006, 2007 and 2017).
Blane Fox, Lakeland Christian, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Fox led his school to a 24-5 record, its first Final Four appearance and its first state championship. In 14 years at LCS, Fox has a 200-147 record.
Chris Cuadra, Miami Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Cuadra led his squad to a 20-8 record and its second straight state championship. In seven years at MCS, Cuadra has a 105-74 record, including a 64-21 mark the past three years.
Jim Smith, Williston, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 21-9 record and the state championship. In 17 years at Williston he has posted a 314-54 record and in his 23-year head coaching career he has an overall mark of 404-197.
Final voting numbers by class listed below:
Class 9A
Player School Points
Matthew Allan Seminole 85
Will Sullivan Dr. Phillips 77
Hunter Fitz-Gerald Stoneman Douglas 50
Coach School Points
Kenne Brown Seminole 110
Tim Beaman Timber Creek 54
Chris Leon Coral Reef 44
Class 8A
Player School Points
Parker Messick Plant City 87
Riley Greene Hagerty 82
Dylan Eskew Sickles 46
Coach School Points
Michael Fryrear Plant City 105
Eric Beattie Strawberry Crest 65
Oddibe McDowell McArthur 34
Class 7A
Player School Points
Jackson Miller Mitchell 67 Mitchell Fairgrieve Creekside (St. Johns) 59
Gabriel Gutierrez Doral Academy 57
Coach School Points
Craig Faulkner Venice 97 Kris King Creekside (St. Johns) 57
Ralph Suarez Doral Academy 38
Class 6A
Player School Points
Camden Minacci Jesuit 65
Ben Gilbert Lake Wales 42
Anthony Nunez Miami Springs 34
Coach School Points
Miguel Menendez Jesuit 102
Ron Sexton Dunedin 73
David Fanshawe Miami Springs 54
Class 5A
Player School Points
Nick Durgin Melbourne Central Catholic 79 Ethan Thompson Santa Fe (Alachua) 45 Bo Bonds Suwannee (Live Oak) 42
Coach School Points
Tom Dooley Melbourne Central Catholic 110
Jason Hamilton Cardinal Gibbons 72 Justin Bruce Suwannee (Live Oak) 51
Class 4A
Player School Points
Nolan Hudl Clearwater Calvary Christian 86 Tyler Callihan Providence (Jacksonville) 60
Nelson Berkwich American Heritage 48
Coach School Points
Carm Mazza American Heritage 85
Greg Olsen Clearwater Calvary Christian 72 Gil Morales Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 39
Class 3A
Player School Points
Brandon Walker North Florida Christian 65
Jovan Gill SW Florida Christian 54
Josh Morse Orangewood Christian 47
Coach School Points
Blane Fox Lakeland Christian 115
Frank Turco Canterbury 65
Mike Posey North Florida Christian 42
Class 2A
Player School Points Carson Pillsbury Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) 67
Alejandro Rosario Miami Christian 47
Korbin Kurtz Real Life Christian 35
Coach School Points
Chris Cuadra Miami Christian 102
Mark Marsala Seacrest Country Day 60
Mike Koronka Real Life Christian 52
Class 1A
Player School Points
Cade Parker Bozeman 61 Parker Seay Williston 52
Connor Varnum Paxton 45
Coach School Points Jim Smith Williston 97 Kyle Parnell Chiefland 53
Jeff Patton Bozeman 39
Inaugural North Florida All-Star Softball Classic at Oakleaf High School (Orange Park). Join Mike Ridaught (Play-by-play) & Raymond Bureau (Color) for the 3rd-place game & Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) & Ray Bureau (Color) for the championship game.
RECAP – After losing to the South, 6-1, in their opening game, the West bounced back to defeat the North, 4-2, to claim third place at Oakleaf High School in Orange Park. Kensley Durrance of Class 1A Bell was stellar in the circle, retiring the final eight batters she faced. Durrance, who has signed to play at Eckerd College, struck out six batters in four innings, facing players like Hallie Kern of Class 9A Jacksonville Mandarin, a Jacksonville University signee, and Michigan State signee Jenae Wash of Class 7A St. Johns Creekside.
The West trailed 2-0 after a half inning of play, but rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the 2nd. After the first out had been recorded in the second, Bradford’s (Starke) Talia Brown walked and then Bell’s Kylee Barry reached on a throwing error by Trinity Christian’s (Jacksonville) Bailey Cooley, an Eastern Florida State College signee, which plated a run. Columbia’s (Lake City) Cris’Deona Beasley’s sacrifice bunt scored Barry to tie the game at 2.
In the fourth, Trenton’s Taniah Bowers reached on a 1-out error, and then Chiefland’s Macie Thomas delivered the game-winning hit, a 2-run home run to left field to give the West the win in a weather-shortened game.
The South scored four runs in the second inning to finish unbeaten and win the inaugural softball classic. Santa Fe (Alachua) pitcher Hailey Raulerson, a UNF signee, got the save in relief. RECAP
GAINESVILLE, FL. – Numerous college signees and state champion players dot the rosters of the four teams for the inaugural North Florida All-Star Softball Classic.
The games, which are a part of the North Florida All-Star Series presented by “The Prep Zone,” take place this Tuesday, June 11, at Oakleaf High School in Orange Park.
Much like the inaugural baseball classic at Columbia High School in Lake City last week, the softball classic will consist of four games beginning at 10 AM. The North All-Stars will battle the East in the opening game, with the South tangling with the West at Noon. The losers of the first two games will play for third place at 3 PM, with the winners playing for the championship at 5 PM.
Tickets at the gate will be $10 for adults for the entire day, and $5 for children and students with ID. Children five and under will be admitted for free. No coolers are allowed inside the ballpark but beverages and snacks will be available for the public.
The North team, consisting of players from Duval, St. Johns, and Nassau counties, is managed by Bartram Trail (St. Johns) head coach Jen Harman, who has led the Bears to five state semifinal appearances, including back-to-back 5A state titles in 2008 and 2009, while . Creekside (St. Johns) head coach Neil Luciano will be one of her assistants. Luciano led the Knights to a 25-5 record and a state runner-up finish in 7A in 2019. Mandarin (Jacksonville) head coach Natalia Gonzalez is the other assistant. Gonzalez has helmed the Mustangs to two state semifinal appearances in 17 seasons and Mandarin finished the 2019 season 24-3 and was #1 in the 9A state rankings most of the season.
Five Mandarin players lead the way in selections for the North, led by Jacksonville University signee Hallie Kern, who hit .411 with a team-leading 27 RBI’s to lead the Mustangs this season. Teammates Jessica Urrutia, sisters Soraya and Serena Hernandez, and Kaylee Beauford, join Kern on the North squad. Class 4A state champion Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) has two representatives from their first fast-pitch softball state title team in Bailey Cooley and Linzie Lafavor, while Michigan State signee Jenae Wash from Creekside helps round out this team.
The East All-Stars are the opponent for the North on Tuesday, and this team includes five players from the host school for the games, the Oakleaf Knights. Oakleaf head coach Christina Thompson is the East manager, while brother Casey Thompson, the head coach at Ridgeview (Orange Park), and Clay (Green Cove Springs) coach Matt Lewis, are assistant coaches for this squad.
Christina Thompson has led Oakleaf to at least the state semifinals four of the past five seasons, with an 8A state championship in 2017 and state runner-up finish in 2018. Casey Thompson guided Ridgeview to its first state semifinal appearance in 6A this season.
Among the five Oakleaf players for the East include University of Florida signee Baylee Goddard and UCF signee Madisyn Davis. Cambria Arturo and sisters Caitlynne and Jasmine Lamug also represent the Knights. Middleburg placed four players on this team, led by Haleigh Wright and Kiersten Sanchez.
The second game of the day will pit the South All-Stars against the West. The South team represents the area from Alachua County south to Marion, Lake, and Volusia counties.
Brittany Beall of Eustis is the head coach for this team and is assisted by Lake Weir (Ocala) manager Brandon Surber. Beall led Eustis to a 26-2 record and a regional semifinal appearance in 2019. She also took the Panthers to their first state championship game appearance in 2017, as they finished 5A state runners-up. Surber guided Lake Weir to their first regional playoff appearance in five years this season.
Beall has two of her players playing for her on the South team, led by Notre Dame signee Leea Hanks and the Panthers’ ace pitcher in 2019, St. Leo signee Kayla Betts. The team that eliminated Eustis in the 5A regional playoffs, Santa Fe (Alachua), placed two players on the South, UNF signee pitcher Hailey Raulerson and Flagler College signee Courtney Robinson. Belleview’s Trinity Girovasi and Kierstyn Kohlmaier also highlight this team along with Drew Wrask and Jenna Smith of Buchholz (Gainesville).
The West squad is led by Todd Bryant, the head coach of this year’s Class 1A state champions, the Trenton Tigers. Bryant, who won a 1A state baseball title in 2013 with Trenton and took the Tigers to the 1A state title game in 2018, led Trenton to an undefeated 27-0 season and first fast-pitch softball state title in school history in 2019. Bryant, this year’s 1A Coach of the Year, is assisted by his assistant coach Clint Anderson, and Bell head coach Krystal Holley.
The West team, which has 12 of 14 college signees, is led by three players from 7A Columbia (Lake City), including Santa Fe College signees Cris’Deona Beasly and Dara Gaylard, and Florida Gulf Coast University signee Lauren Hutcherson. Madison County also has three representatives, led by another Santa Fe College signee in Laila Dickey, and rivals Trenton and Bell placed two players apiece on the West squad.
The inaugural North Florida All-Star Softball Series rosters were picked with nominations from coaches and chosen by the North Florida All-Star Committee, which consists of Mike Ridaught and Marty Pallman from The Prep Zone, along with Corey Davis of DuvalSports.com and Joshua Wilson of FloridaHSFootball.com.
The third-place and championship games will be broadcast with live streaming video from Orange Park on Tuesday via the NFHS Network. A broadcast link will be provided soon here at ThePrepZone.com.
For more information, please text Mike Ridaught at 352-258-8450 or email northflaallstar@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Oakleaf High School for hosting this year’s inaugural event. We would also like to thank all the coaches, parents, volunteers, players, and their sponsors, for helping us to launch this game.
For more information or questions about next year’s event, please text Mike at 352-258-8450 or email mike@ThePrepZone.com.
NORTH ALL-STARS
NO. POSITION(S) NAME (SCHOOL) SPONSOR
#1 SS/OF/P Alexa Gatlin (Pedro Menendez) Menendez Athletic Boosters
#2 C/OF Soraya Hernandez (Jacksonville Mandarin) Mandarin High Booster Club
#7 OF Serena Hernandez (Jacksonville Mandarin) Mandarin High Booster Club
#9 C/3B/1B Linzie Lafavor (Jacksonville Trinity Christian) Lafavor Family
#10 SS/2B/OF Jessica Urrutia (Jacksonville Mandarin) Mandarin High Booster Club
#11 P Bailey Cooley (Jacksonville Trinity Christian) Cooley Family
#12 P/2B Shelbea Holland (Fernandina Beach) Rushing Construction, LLC
#15 CF/LF/RF Maggie Wendt (Jacksonville University Christian) Married to the Mop
#17 SS/3B Jenae Wash (St. Johns Creekside) VENUS Swimwear and Fashion
#18 3B Emily Sikes (St. Johns Bartram Trail) Sikes Family
#19 SS/2B/3B/OF/P Olivia Creamer (St. Johns Bartram Trail) Creamer Family
#22 OF/2B Kaylee Beauford (Jacksonville Mandarin) Mandarin High Booster Club
#25 C/3B Hallie Kern (Jacksonville Mandarin) Mandarin High Booster Club
#30 SS Catilyn Boalch Baldwin Bolach Family
HEAD COACH: Jen Harman, St. Johns Bartram Trail
ASSISTANT COACHES: Natalia Gonzalez, Jacksonville Mandarin; Neil Luciano, St. Johns Creekside
EAST ALL-STARS
NO. POSITION(S) NAME (SCHOOL) SPONSOR
#0 1B/IF/OF Sydney Lewis Clay (Green Cove Springs Clay) High School
#2 IF Haleigh Wright (Middleburg) Wright Family
#3 2B/3B/SS/C Savannah Channell (Keystone Heights) Keystone Heights High School
#4 C/1B Olivia Wannall-Wilber (Middleburg) Robert & Cheryl Curry
#5 P Bri Enter (Orange Park St. Johns Country Day) Enter Family
#6 2B/3B/IF/OF Caitlynne Lamug (Orange Park Oakleaf) Oakleaf High Booster Club
#7 P/1B Madisyn Davis (Orange Park Oakleaf) Oakleaf High Booster Club
#8 C Maggie Wilkes (Orange Park St. Johns Country Day) Wilkes Family
#10 OF/RF/2B Haley Crosby (Middleburg) Crosby Family
#18 P/1B Cambria Arturo Oakleaf Oakleaf High Booster Club
#19 3B Baylee Goddard (Orange Park Oakleaf) Oakleaf High Booster Club
#20 2B/SS/IF/OF Jasmine Lamug Oakleaf Oakleaf High Booster Club
#22 DP/IF/C/OF/1B Dakotah Worley (Green Cove Springs Clay) Clay High School
#25 1B/UT Kiersten Sanchez Middleburg Oakleaf Carpet Care
HEAD COACH: Christina Thompson, Oakleaf
ASSISTANT COACHES: Casey Thompson, Ridgeview, Matt Lewis, Clay
SOUTH ALL-STARS
NO. POSITION(S) NAME SCHOOL SPONSOR
#1 SS/2B Courtney Robinson (Alachua Santa Fe) Alachua Pest Services, LLC
#2 SS/C Bailey Bates (Clermont East Ridge) USA Medical Equipment
#3 P/2B/OF Kayla Betts (Eustis) Eustis High School
#4 1B Elayna Berry (Ocala Lake Weir) Lake Weir High School
#6 1B/CF/UT Kierstyn Kohlmaier Belleview Belleview High Athletic Booster Club
#7 OF Leea Hanks (Eustis) Eustis High School
#8 CF/OF Jenna Smith (Gainesville Buchholz) Buchholz High School
#9 1B/IF Drew Wrask (Gainesville Buchholz) Buchholz High School
#12 3B/C Trinity Girovasi (Belleview) Belleview High Athletic Booster Club
#14 OF Hannah Malloy (Ocala Lake Weir) Lake Weir High School
#15 OF/SS McKenzie Jones (Deltona) Deltona High School Athletics
#16 P Hailey Raulerson (Alachua Santa Fe) Alachua Pest Services, LLC
#32 C/SS/CF Shelby Sparkman (Gainesville P.K. Yonge) P.K. Yonge DRS
#91 OF Armya “Cookie” Taylor (Ocala Lake Weir) Lake Weir High School
HEAD COACH: Brittany Beall, Eustis
ASSISTANT COACH: Brandon Surber, Ocala Lake Weir
WEST ALL-STARS
NO. POSITION(S) NAME (SCHOOL) SPONSOR
#1 P/SS Cris’Deona Beasley (Lake City Columbia) Columbia High School
#3 SS/2B Laila Dickey (Madison County) Madison County High School
#4 LF/CF Talia Brown (Starke Bradford) Bradford Softball Boosters
#9 2B/3B/C Ragan Barnes (Mayo Lafayette) Lady Hornet Booster Club
#10 1B Grace Guthrie (Trenton) Scott & Amie Guthrie
#11 3B/C Ashlyn Rogers (Monticello Aucilla Christian) Aucilla Christian Acd. Softball Boosters
#12 P/SS/CF Kylee Barry (Bell) Bell Softball Diamond Club, Inc.
#14 CF/OF Caroline Jennings (Madison County) Madison County High School
#15 1B Macie Thomas (Chiefland) Thomas Family
#20 P Kensley Durrance (Bell) Bell Softball Diamond Club, Inc.
#21 1B/3B Dara Gaylard (Lake City Columbia) Columbia High School
#32 3B Taniah Bowers (Trenton) Bowers Family
#44 C Amber R. Thompson (Madison County) Madison County High School
HEAD COACH: Todd Bryant, Trenton
ASSISTANT COACHES: Clint Anderson, Trenton; Krystal Holley, Bell
This Tuesday, June 11, Oakleaf High School (Orange Park) & “The Prep Zone” will host the inaugural North Florida All-Star Softball games featuring four teams from four regions that comprise The Prep Zone’s coverage area (26 counties from Duval County down to Lake County).
The West team is coached by Trenton’s Todd Bryant, who led the Tigers to their first fast-pitch softball state title in school history and a 27-0 record. He is assisted by Bell coach Krystal Holley and Trenton assistant Clint Anderson.
Bryant, the Class 1A Coach of the Year, has a stacked roster. A total of 12 of the 14 players on the West squad have signed to play at the next level, including six players who will be playing at Santa Fe College in Gainesville next season.
The West will play the South at noon on Tuesday, June 11. The North will play the East at 10 a.m. The losers will play at 3 p.m. (3rd-place), while the winners will play for the championship at 5 p.m.
WEST ROSTER #1 Cris’Deona Beasley (Lake City Columbia) P/SS – Santa Fe College signee
Went 10-5 for the Tigers with 1.40 ERA, 64 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched; had two no-hitters. At the plate, batted .414 with five doubles, one home run and 17 RBIs #3 Laila Dickey (Madison County) SS/2B – Santa Fe College signee
.437 BA, 24 RS, finished 2nd on the team with 31 hits, 15 RBI, 8 2B, 1 HR, .506 OBP, .591 SLG; .912 fielding percentage #4 Talia Brown (Starke Bradford) LF/CF – signed with South Georgia State
Hit .392 with three doubles, two triples, three home runs, 20 RBIs, walked 22 times, .566 on base percentage #6 Lauren Hutcherson (Lake City Columbia) SS/CF – signed with Florida Gulf Coast University
Batted .415 with five doubles, one triple, 12 RBIs, walked 12 times, .951 fielding percentage #9 Ragan Barnes (Mayo Lafayette) 2B/3B/C – signed with Savannah State
.283 BA, 12 RS, 15 hits, 12 RBI, 5 2B #10 Grace Guthrie (Trenton) 1B – Santa Fe College signee
Hit .250 with 5 doubles, 10 RBIs, 22 runs scored #11 Ashlyn Rogers (Monticello Aucilla Christian) 3B/C – Santa Fe College signee
.625 BA, 10 RS, 15 RBI, 4 2B, 3 HR, .656 OBP; finished 3rd in the voting for the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A Player of the Year; Ashlyn is a very smart, athletic and hard-working student athlete; 3.85 GPA; She can play anywhere on the field, has caught for us most of the season, but is a phenomenal 3rd baseman. Very hard working and coachable. She is a power hitter but can execute anything that needs to be done in whatever situation. #12 Kylee Barry (Bell) P/SS/CF – signed with Division 2 Newberry College in South Carolina
Outstanding athlete who played infield, outfielder and pitched; batted .329 with 10 doubles, one triple, 16 RBIs and 26 runs scored for the 20-6 1A regional semifinalists; had fielding percentage of .902 and went 4-0 in circle with .064 ERA for 32.2 innings pitched; She has also helped her team win District and Regional Championship along with a State Final Four appearance in her high school career; 3.87 GPA #14 Caroline Jennings (Madison County) CF/OF
.362 BA, 21 RS, 25 hits, 11 RBI, 1 2B, team-leading 15 stolen bases #15 Macie Thomas (Chiefland) 1B – uncommitted but has offer from Hillsborough CC
One of the program’s all-time best sluggers; hit .486 with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 27 RBIs for the Indians; holds multiple single-season hitting records, including most doubles in a season (19 last year), and is the last remaining starting piece of Chiefland’s 2017 state finals team, which marked the end of a four-year run that included three state championships. It was a Thomas double that lifted CMHS to the state title game that season. #20 Kensley Durrance (Bell) P – Signed with Eckerd College
Went 8-2 on season with 0.62 ERA for the Bulldogs, with 141 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched, only 28 walks, .129 on-base percentage #21 Dara Gaylard (Lake City Columbia) 1B/3B – Santa Fe College signee
Hit .370 with six doubles, three home runs, 23 RBIs #32 Taniah Bowers (Trenton) 3B – Santa Fe College signee (Basketball)
Hit .309 with one double, 15 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 14 stolen bases #44 Amber R. Thompson (Madison County) C – Signed with FSCJ
.377 BA, 29 hits, 20 RBI, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, .532 SLG; .970 fielding percentage
Head Coach: Todd Bryant (Trenton)
Assistant Coach: Krystal Holley (Bell)
Assistant Coach: Clint Anderson (Trenton)
GAINESVILLE (June 6) — The class finalists for the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Softball and Softball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school softball coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Following are the Miss Softball Award finalists (area winners in bold)
Tyrina Jones, Sophomore, Pitcher, Park Vista, Class 9A Player of the Year
Jones posted a 17-2 record with an 0.71 ERA and had 176 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 126 innings for the Class 9A state champions.
Kaley Mudge, Senior, Outfielder, Winter Springs, Class 8A Player of the Year
Mudge, a Florida State signee, led Winter Springs to the state title, hitting .535 with 41 runs scored and 28 runs batted in while collecting 17 doubles, five triples and four home runs.
Vivian Ponn, Senior, Pitcher/ First Baseman, Ft. Myers, Class 7A Player of the Year
The University of South Florida signee had a 17-2 record with an 0.63 ERA on the mound and hit .472 with eight home runs and 37 RBI, finishing her career with a school-record 35 home runs.
Maci Barnhart, Junior, Pitcher, Sebring, Class 6A Player of the Year
Barnhart led her team to the state title with a 23-1 record. She had an 0.75 ERA in 139 innings pitched with 256 strikeouts and 32 walks.
Lindsey Garcia, Senior, Infielder, Coral Springs Charter, Class 5A Player of the Year
The Auburn University signee led her squad to its fifth straight state title by hitting for a .549 average with 54 runs scored and 44 runs batted in while collecting nine doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases.
Chloe Nadler, Senior, Shortstop, American Heritage, Class 4A Player of the Year
Nadler posted a state-leading .727 batting average with 32 runs scored and 38 runs batted in with 14 doubles, six triples, two home runs and 29 stolen bases. She has signed with the College of Central Florida.
Kaley Sarasty, Senior, Utility, Faith Christian, Class 3A Player of the Year
Sarasty posted a .712 batting average while scoring 45 runs and posting a state-leading 83 runs batted in. She had 13 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs and 19 stolen bases. She has signed with Southeastern University.
Lexi Kilfoyl, Senior, Pitcher/ First Baseman, Academy at the Lakes, Class 2A Player of the Year
The 2018 Miss Softball led her squad to its second straight state title with a 12-1 record and an 0.48 ERA, striking out 134 batters in 73 innings pitched. She also hit .562 with 12 home runs and 37 runs batted in. She has signed with the University of Alabama.
Darian Ingram, Sophomore, Pitcher, Trenton, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led her team to the state title with a 23-0 record, holding opposing hitters to an 0.40 ERA while striking out 206 batters in 140 innings pitched.
Following are the Softball Coach of the Year finalists:
Joe DellaRocca, Park Vista, Class 9A Coach of the Year
In his first year at Park Vista, DellaRocca led his squad to a 29-3 record and its first state championship. From 2008-11, he posted a 93-30 record with two Final Four appearances while coaching at Dwyer.
Mark Huaman, Winter Springs, Class 8A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 31-0 record and the school’s first state title by defeating No. 1 nationally-ranked and unbeaten Lakewood Ranch in the state title game. Winter Springs finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally. In 20 years, Huaman has posted an overall record of 394-160 with a state runnerup finish in 2011.
John Bridges, Lake Region, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 22-9 record and the state title. In 10 years, he has posted a 202-79 record with state runnerup finishes in 2014 and 2016.
Joe Sinness, Sebring, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Posted a 27-2 record on the way to the state championship, the school’s first Final Four appearance in his 11-year tenure. Has a career record of 174-100.
Mark Montimurro, Coral Springs Charter, Class 5A Coach of the Year
The 2019 Florida Coach-of-the-Year led his team to a 29-1 record and its fifth straight state championship in his seventh year at the school. Montimurro, who won two state titles at Hollywood Christian and was also named state coach-of-the-year in 2004, has a 496-109 record during his 21-year career.
J.R. Borden, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville), Class 4A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 20-6 record and the state title after a state runnerup finish in 2018. Trinity has made four straight Final Four appearances.
Bill Hoopes, Admiral Farragut, Class 3A Coach of the Year
In his first year as head coach, Hoopes led his squad to a 20-10 record and the school’s second straight Class 3A state title.
Diane Stephenson, Academy at the Lakes, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Stephenson led her team to a 19-7 record and the school’s second straight state championship. In three years as head coach she has posted a 68-13 record.
Todd Bryant, Trenton, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Led squad to a 27-0 record and the state championship after finishing as the state runnerup in 2018. Has posted a 90-17 record over the past four years.
Final voting numbers by class listed below:
Class 9A
Player School Points
Tyrina Jones Park Vista 95
McKayla Timmons Newsome 54
Raychel Trocki Dr. Phillips 38
Coach School Points
Joe DellaRocca Park Vista 105
Mike MacWithey Apopka 79
Autumn Dunn Newsome 64
Class 8A
Player School Points
Kaley Mudge Winter Springs 95
Avery Goelz Lakewood Ranch 76
Claire Davidson Lakewood Ranch 56
Coach School Points
Mark Huaman Winter Springs 127
T.J. Goelz Lakewood Ranch 85 Christina Thompson Oakleaf (Orange Park) 55
Class 7A
Player School Points
Vivian Ponn Fort Myers 69 Alissa Humphrey Gainesville 61
Savannah Barnett Lake Region 55
Coach School Points
John Bridges Lake Region 125 Neil Luciano Creekside (St. Johns) 63
Johnny Manetta Fort Myers 54
Class 6A
Player School Points
Maci Barnhart Sebring 116 Cameron Fagan Dunnellon 68 Jaden Vickers Crystal River 43
Coach School Points
Joe Sinness Sebring 120 Deon Copeland Crystal River 83
Scott Thomas Rockledge 42
Class 5A
Player School Points
Lindsey Garcia Coral Springs Charter 87
Chloe Temples Marianna 66 Ali Shenefield Hernando (Brooksville) 50
Coach School Points
Mark Montimurro Coral Springs Charter 104
Scott Wiggins Marianna 89 Kevin Bittinger Hernando (Brooksville) 52
Class 4A
Player School Points
Chloe Nadler American Heritage 94
Hayley Eaton Calvary Christian 57 Amaya Ross Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 42
Coach School Points J.R. Borden Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 120
Scott Doan Westminster Christian 75
Kevin Drake Oxbridge Academy 54
Class 3A
Player School Points
Kaley Sarasty Faith Christian 76
Chloe Culp North Florida Christian 69
Krystina Hartley Admiral Farragut 66
Coach School Points
Bill Hoopes Admiral Farragut 117
Rico Rosado John Carroll 76 Keith Stroud University Christian (Jacksonville) 56
Class 2A
Player School Points
Lexi Kilfoyl Academy at the Lakes 132
Jocelyn Alonso St. Pete Canterbury 57 Ashlyn Rogers Aucilla Christian (Monticello) 45
Coach School Points
Diane Stephenson Academy at the Lakes 130 Josh Swearingen Mount Dora Christian 85 Jeff Hutchins Peniel Baptist (Palatka) 57
Class 1A
Player School Points Darian Ingram Trenton 117
Michaela Edenfield Sneads 59
Shelby Sloan Baker 51
Coach School Points Todd Bryant Trenton 135
Michael Graham Sneads 91
Tony Price Wewahitchka 60
Inaugural North Florida All-Star Baseball Classic (ROSTERS & BROADCAST LINKS)
North Florida All Star Baseball results (Tuesday, June 4)
Game 1: South 2, West 1
Game 2: East 15, North 14
Game 3: West 7, North 4 – WEST finishes 3rd
Game 4: East 6, South 4 – EAST wins championship; SOUTH – finishes 2nd
NORTH ALL-STARS ROSTER
NUMBER NAME (SCHOOL) – SPONSOR
1 Aaron Mason (Jacksonville University Christian) – Mason Family
2 Griffin Deckerhoff (Jacksonville University Christian) – Deckerhoff Family
3 Cole Turner (Jacksonville Paxon) – Fred & Nichole Turner
4 Ian Brown (Neptune Beach Fletcher) – Brown Family
5 Max Netzel (Jacksonville Providence) – Netzel Family
6 Christian Nobles (Callahan West Nassau) – Nobles Family
7 Isaiah Harris (Neptune Beach Fletcher) – Harris Family
9 Jevin Relaford (Neptune Beach Fletcher) – Relaford Family
10 Reggie Jackson (Jacksonville First Coast) – Jackson Family
12 Payton Stacy (Jacksonville Englewood) – Victoria Armstrong & Taylor Day Law
14 Seth Wysocki (Neptune Beach Fletcher) – Wyscocki Family
15 Jeremy Vega (Jacksonville Englewood) – Finley Williams w/The Law Offices of John M. Phillips
16 Cutter Cannon (Jacksonville Providence) – Cannon Family
17 Ben Weeks (Jacksonville Providence) – Weeks Utility Services, Inc.
20 Albren Pringle (Jacksonville Paxon) – Pringle Family
21 Brian Veniard (Neptune Beach Fletcher) – Veniard Family
22 John Ross Goodin (Jacksonville Sandalwood) – Kwik Fix Plumbing
HEAD COACH: Mike Grillo, Fletcher
ASSISTANT COACH: Justin Sirmon, University Christian
WEST ALL-STARS ROSTER
NUMBER NAME (SCHOOL) – SPONSOR
0 Jeremiah Vaughn (Starke Bradford) – Bradford Baseball
1 Blake Hall (Trenton) – L.R. Wise Jr.
2 Bo Bonds (Live Oak Suwannee) – Suwannee Baseball Boosters
3 Cody Morgan (Fort White) – Sally Morgan
4 Keegan McLelland (Chiefland) – Chiefland Diamond Club, Inc.
5 Parker Aultman (Newberry) – NHS Baseball Booster, Inc.
6 Dee Covey (Newberry) – NHS Baseball Booster, Inc.
8 Jake Elder (Williston) – Williston Timber Company, Inc.
9 Dalton Croft (Live Oak Suwannee) – Suwannee Baseball Boosters
10 Hunter Noblitt (Glen St. Mary Baker County) – Big Cat Academy
11 Dilan Lawson (Madison County) – Mike & Lindsey Lawson
12 Logan Lepper (Madison County) – ABLE Outdoors
15 Parker Seay (Williston) – Seay Family
16 Daquarius Thompkins (Madison County) – Odiorne Insurance
17 Ethan Davis (Williston) – Roberts Trucking, Inc.
18 Dawson Rutherford (Madison County) – Dan Rutherford
19 Josh Wharton (Live Oak Suwannee) – Suwannee Baseball Boosters
20 Zach Hardee (Trenton) – Drummond Community Bank
21 Payne Parnell (Chiefland) – Chiefland Diamond Club, Inc.
22 Kelby Osteen (Chiefland) – Chiefland Diamond Club, Inc.
HEAD COACH: Scott Hall, Trenton
ASSISTANT COACHES: Jason Fletcher, Madison County; Justin Bruce, Suwannee
West vs. North broadcast (3rd-place game) – Join Marty Pallman (play-by-play) & Mike Ridaught (color) for the 3rd-place game broadcast via the NFHS Network. The ‘live’ broadcasts were subscription-based. However, you can sign up for a free account to watch the replays for free after 72 hours.
SOUTH ALL-STARS ROSTER
NUMBER NAME (SCHOOL) – SPONSOR
1 Ariel Martinez (Tavares) – Tavares High School Baseball
2 Brandon McBride (Clermont East Ridge) – Don Mealey Cheverolet
3 Mac Gibas (Ocala Trinity Catholic) – Trinity Catholic High School
4 Cole Howard (Gainesville Buchholz) – Buchholz Baseball Boosters Inc.
5 Riley Rozar (Ocala Vanguard) – Vanguard Booster Club
6 Zavier Delgado (Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian) – EZ Pull Trailers
7 Marcos Aular (Gainesville) – Campus USA Credit Union & Capital City Investments
9 Cameron Martinez (Citra North Marion) – North Marion Homerun Club, Inc.
10 Ethan Thompson (Alachua Santa Fe) – Santa Fe Raider Baseball Boosters
11 Maurice Goolsby (Dunnellon) – Dunnellon High School
12 Caleb Abshier (Belleview) – Belleview High Athletic Boosters
13 Brennan Haire (Alachua Santa Fe) – Santa Fe Raider Baseball Boosters
15 Matt Moss (Gainesville Buchholz) – Moss Family
19 Zeb Marquis (Gainesville) – Campus USA Credit Union & Capital City Investments
20 Jake Blair (Citra North Marion) – North Marion Homerun Club, Inc.
21 Dustin Beckleheimer (Alachua Santa Fe) – Santa Fe Raider Baseball Boosters
25 Wesley Avery (Gainesville Buchholz) – Buchholz Baseball Boosters Inc.
26 Wes Powell (Ocala Trinity Catholic) – Trinity Catholic High School
27 Luke Marquis (Gainesville) – Campus USA Credit Union & Capital City Investments
33 Pete Meyers (Gainesville Eastside) – Meyers Family
HEAD COACH: Tommy Bond, Trinity Catholic
ASSISTANT COACH: Chris Malphurs, Gainesville
EAST ALL-STARS ROSTER
NUMBER NAME (SCHOOL) – SPONSOR
2 Dylan Blair (Lake City Columbia) – Columbia Baseball
5 Clayton Simmons (Middleburg) – Middleburg High School
6 Zach Morris (Green Cove Springs Clay) – Clay Baseball
7 Christian Powell (Middleburg) – Middleburg High School
8 Justin Mosley (Green Cove Springs Clay) – Clay Baseball
9 Colin Gross (Green Cove Springs Clay) – Clay Baseball
10 Cal Gilliam (Lake City Columbia) – Columbia Baseball
11 Sammy Walker (Lake City Columbia) – Columbia Baseball
14 Jamie Minchin (Lake City Columbia) – Columbia Baseball
17 Alex Guzewich (Orange Park Oakleaf) – The Guzewich Family
18 Mason McCloud (Ponte Vedra) – PV Sharks Baseball Booster Club, Inc.
19 Grayson Chastain (Daytona Beach Father Lopez) – Chastain Family
20 Carter Page (Ponte Vedra) – PV Sharks Baseball Booster Club, Inc.
21 Brody Maynard (Ponte Vedra) – PV Sharks Baseball Booster Club, Inc.
22 Collin Henderson (Middleburg) – Middleburg High School
23 Grayson Chastain (Daytona Beach Father Lopez) – Chastain Family
24 Nick Barrie (Green Cove Springs Clay) – Clay Baseball
26 Tony Roca (Ponte Vedra) – PV Sharks Baseball Booster Club, Inc.
30 Dylan Faulkner (Green Cove Spring Clay) – Clay Baseball
HEAD COACH: Josh Persinger, Clay
ASSISTANT COACH: Travis McQuaig, Clay
South vs. East broadcast (Championship game) – Join Marty Pallman (play-by-play) for the Championship game broadcast via the NFHS Network. The ‘live’ broadcasts were subscription-based. However, you can sign up for a free account to watch the replays for free after 72 hours.
Williston won the Class 1A state title. It was the Red Devils’ third championship in the past six years. They defeated Chiefland in an all-Levy County state final.
Suwannee (Live Oak) advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time in over 50 years. The Bulldogs (22-10) defeated defending state runner-up Bolles (Jacksonville) in the 5A Regional Semifinals and advanced to the state semifinals with an 8-2 win against Walton (Defuniak Springs) in the Region Final.
Newberry advanced to the second round of the 5A state playoffs & Trenton only lost five games, falling to eventual state finalist Chiefland in a tough Class 1A-District 7 tournament.
Now they will all come together to represent the West during the inaugural North Florida All-Star Series.
The West squad is managed by Trenton head coach Scott Hall, who won two state titles as Williston manager in 2014 and ‘15 and led the Tigers to the state semifinals in 2018. He will be assisted by Madison County head coach Jason Fletcher and Suwannee head coach Justin Bruce.
Fletcher took the Cowboys to back-to-back 1A state runner-up finishes in 2017 and ’18 but lost to Williston in this year’s Class 1A Region Final. And Bruce led the Bulldogs to their first Final Four appearance since 1967.
Madison County, which lost to Williston in the Region Final, leads the way with four players on the team – Dawson Rutherford, Tallahassee Community College commit Dilan Lawson, Daquarius Thompkins & Logan Lepper.
Lawson, who won a state basketball title with the Cowboys this year, batted .350 while finishing with a sparkling 0.61 ERA.
“He is probably one of the best pitchers I have seen throw in a while,” said Fletcher. “He throws three pitches for strikes and the fastball has the ability to break 90.”
Bo Bonds, a Chipola College signee, leads a trio of Suwannee players, along with Dalton Croft & Josh Wharton.
Bonds, who carries a 3.6 GPA, broke the single-season record for strikeouts with 110 and finished with a 9-2 record and a 0.94 ERA.
“Bo is a team leader who always leads by example,” said Bruce. “He never gets into trouble and is always team first.”
Three players from Class 1A state champion Williston are on the team
Three players from Williston are also represented: Parker Seay (College of Central Florida), Jake Elder, and Ethan Davis. Seay (0.96 ERA) finished the season with 101 strikeouts in only 58 innings pitched.
Payne Parnell (Chiefland), a 3-sport player in football, basketball and baseball, is one of three Indians on the team. Parnell (avg. 378 & .935-Fielding percentage) is an FFA officer and active member of FCA and Interact Club. He joins Kelby Osteen and Keegan McLelland on the West team.
“Each of these players have been 3-year starters,” said Chiefland coach Kyle Parnell, who retired in May after 21 seasons. “They are outstanding young men on and off the field. They all work on their game year-round and have been excellent role models for our younger players.”
A pair of Trenton players made the team. Hall’s son, Blake, batted .361 with 16 RBI, and Zach Hardee was among the team leaders for the Tigers with a .384 average and a team-leading 35 runs scored.
Newberry, Class 5A-District 5 champions, also has a pair of players on the West team – Parker Aultman & Dee Covey.
Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 4-year varsity starter Hunter Noblitt (Seminole State), Jeremiah Vaughn of Bradford (Starke), and Cody Morgan (Fort White) are the only individual players to represent their school.
The West will play the South on Tuesday, June 4, at 10 a.m. The loser will play for 3rd-place at 4 p.m. while the winner will play for the region championship at 7 p.m. For more on the North Florida Baseball All-Star games, click here.
The Trophy Shop Athlete of the Week for the week of May 20 is DARIAN INGRAM* of the Trenton softball team.
Credit: Lisa Rowland photography
*The Florida Atlantic commit helped lead the Tigers to their first fast-pitch softball state title in school history. She tossed a 3-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 4-0 win against defending 1A state champion Wewahitchka in the state semifinals and pitched a complete-game with 12 strikeouts in a 7-3 win against Sneads in the Class 1A state championship game. The sophomore finished the season with a 23-0 record and a 0.40 ERA, with 206 strikeouts in 139.2 innings pitched, and only 42 walks.
This is our final award of the 2018-19 school year. Congratulations to all of our winners!
Previous 2018-19 winners:
May 13 – Connor Neal (Williston baseball)
Neal helped lead the eventual Class 1A state champions to the state semifinals with two big games in the regional tournament. The senior went 4 for 4 at the plate, with two runs batted in and two runs scored for the Red Devils in an 11-1 win against Hamilton County (Jasper) in the Region 3-1A semifinals. Three days later, trailing 2-1 to Madison County in the Region Final, Neal had an RBI triple to tie the game in the fourth and then scored the game-winning run on an RBI single by Logan Head to help the Red Devils advance to Fort Myers.
May 6 – Cal Gilliam (Columbia baseball)
Gilliam hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs in a 11-0 win in five innings over Middleburg in the District 3-7A semifinals. The St. Johns River State College signee also had two hits and two runs batted in, along with two runs scored, as Columbia beat Gainesville, 13-6, in the district championship game. It was the fifth consecutive district title for the Tigers.
April 29 – Ben Shelton (Buchholz boys tennis)
The sophomore became the first boys’ tennis player at Buchholz to win a state title by capturing the 4A individual state title. He defeated Luis Iriarte Bastidas of Cypress Bay in straight sets in the championship and he beat Louisville commit Randy Wilson of Miami Palmetto in the semifinals. Shelton, the son of UF men’s tennis coach Bryan Shelton, did not drop a set in any of his singles matches and was the only Buchholz player to pick up a win in the Bobcats’ state quarterfinal loss to Lake Nona.
April 22 – Natiya James (Eastside girls track & field)
James led the Eastside girls track and field team at the FHSAA Class 2A-Region 2 Meet by earning 1st place points in the 300m hurdles (45.34). The junior also finished 3rd in the long jump (5.58m) and third in the triple jump (11.09m) to advance to the state meet.
April 15 – Niles Cromwell (Gainesville boys track & field)
Cromwell won the 100-meter and 200-meter dash to capture individual district titles and help lead the Gainesville boys to a second-place finish behind Vanguard (Ocala) at the District 3-5A track and field meet. The senior had a personal best time of 11.37 seconds in the 100-meter dash and a time of 23.05 in the 200 meters. Cromwell, a Rochester (NY) signee in football, also ran a leg on the Hurricanes’ 4 x 100-meter relay championship team.
April 8 – Haley Barber (Santa Fe girls lacrosse)
The sophomore set the school record with 11 goals in a 19-13 win against Eastside on Tuesday, April 9. Two nights later she was at it again, netting a game-high seven goals in a 19-0 win against St. Joseph (St. Augustine) in the regular season finale. Barber, a team captain, finished the 2019 season second on the team with 50 goals.
April 1 – Ashton Ludwig (Keystone Heights softball)
The junior helped lead the Indians to a fourth-place finish in the Gold Division of the prestigious Kissimmee Klassic. Ludwig started out on fire in the tournament. She was 5-for-5 with four runs driven in as Keystone Heights defeated Riverview, 8-3, in its opening game. Ludwig followed that up by going 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in a 7-0 win against Frostproof. She finished the tournament with a .643 batting average in four games.
March 25 – Tamari Davis (Oak Hall girls track & field)
Davis, who transferred from Gainesville to Oak Hall this season, set a Florida Relays high school record in winning the 100-meter dash in 11.27. The time was also the best in the nation and the seventh fastest time in the world. Her time lowered the previous best of 11.29, which she tied last year.
March 18 – Deylynd Grant (Buchholz boys track & field)
Grant won two events at the Alachua County Track & Field Championships at Santa Fe High School as the Buchholz boys won the team title. The junior took first in both the 110 hurdles (14.89) and the 300 hurdles (43.14). He was the only Bobcat to win a pair of individual events for the Buchholz boys, which totaled 172 points, ahead of Oak Hall with 106 and Gainesville with 104.
March 11 – Tiffany Clark (Union County softball)
The junior had a monster week in leading the Tigers to a pair of victories. She began the week by going 3-for-6 with 6 RBI in a 27-11 win at Williston. Two nights later, Clark went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple and 9 RBI in a 22-12 win against Branford. In addition to the 15 runs that she drove in, Clark also scored four times, accounting for 19 runs in the two games.
March 4 – Lawrence Smith-Jackson (Buchholz wrestling)
Smith-Jackson placed fourth at the FHSAA Class 3A state meet, the best individual area showing at state. The senior also placed second at both regionals and the 3A-District 1 tournament, and he took first at meets such as the Westside Kiwanis in Jacksonville and the Hagerty IBT in Oviedo. He was named the Gainesville Sun’s Wrestler of the Year.
February 25 – Standrea McHenry (Trenton girls basketball)
McHenry helped lead the Lady Tigers (27-3) to their first girls basketball state title since 1980. The senior just missed a triple-double in the championship game. She finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and nine steals in the 43-31 win against Holmes County in the Class 1A Final at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. She had a double-double in the 60-40 win against Port St. Joe in the state semifinals. McHenry scored 14 points and tied a game-high with 13 rebounds. She finished the season second in scoring at 14.3 points per game, just seven points total behind fellow senior Taniah Bowers, and she led the team in rebounds (7.5 per game).
February 18 – Alissa Humphrey (Gainesville softball)
The Jacksonville University commit was 2-0 with a complete-game no-hitter and an 8 inning 2-hitter. She combined for 34 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. At the plate, the junior was 3-for-8 with a double and 2 RBI, including the game-winning hit (a double with runners on 2nd and 3rd) in a 3-1 extra inning win at Santa Fe (Alachua). Humphrey struck out 18 Raiders and accounted for all but six outs.
February 11 – Darrien Jones (Columbia boys basketball)
The junior helped lead the Tigers to their first district title in 19 years by averaging 12 points, seven assists, 1.5 steals, and he was 10-of-12 from the free throw line in two games. In the 7A-District 4 semifinals, Jones scored a team-high 13 points, including seven in the final quarter, in a 61-51 win against Forest (Ocala). He added seven assists, eight rebounds, one steal, and was 5-of-6 from the free throw line. In the championship game, a 61-51 win against top-seed Gainesville, Jones scored 11 points, dished out seven assists, grabbed three rebounds, collected two steals, and he was 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
February 4 – Mahailya Reeves (Union County girls weightlifting)
The 15-year-old benched a state record 360 pounds, breaking the state mark by 55 pounds, and that coupled with her 185 in the clean-and-jerk gave her a state record total of 545 pounds in the unlimited division. Reeves’ win gave the defending 1A state champions two first-place finishes, as Union County finished fourth at the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals at Arnold High School in Panama City Beach.
January 28 – Jalen Speer (P.K. Yonge boys basketball)
The junior combo guard helped lead the Blue Wave to a 2-1 week. After scoring 17 points and grabbing four rebounds in a home loss to 6A No. 2 Eastside (Gainesville), Speer scored 22 points, had three assists, four rebounds and four steals in a 65-55 upset win at Class 3A No. 1 Orlando Christian Prep. But he saved his best for last. Speer scored 32 points and grabbed six rebounds, and he hit the game-winning free throw with no time on the clock, in a 54-53 win at defending 1A state champion Wildwood.
January 21 – KJ Bradley (Eastside boys basketball)
Bradley helped lead the Rams to a 3-0 week. The junior guard scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds in a 57-41 win at Williston to start the week. He followed that up with 14 points in a 41-40 win at Santa Fe (Alachua) and finished the week with 14 points in a home win against St. Francis Catholic Academy (Gainesville). Bradley, who finished the week with 11 rebounds, was the only Rams’ player in double figures in all three games.
January 14 – Sierra Millinor (Eastside girls soccer)
Less than a week after tying the school record for goals in a game (six), Millinor followed it up with seven more goals in leading the Lady Rams (12-2) to a 2-0 week. The senior scored four straight goals in a 5-0 win against Citrus (Inverness) on January 14. The following night, the Huntingdon College signee had a hat trick in a 7-0 win at Vanguard (Ocala).
January 7 – Isabella Quintana (Eastside girls soccer)
Quintana set a school record with six goals in an 8-0 win against Crystal River on January 8. Teammate Sierra Millinor would end up tying the record a couple of games later in an 8-0 win at North Marion (Citra). Quintana scored the other two goals against the Colts and added five assists. She had three goals and an assist in an 8-0 win at home against North Marion as part of a 3-0 week for the Lady Rams. The senior finished with the week with 11 goals in three games.
December 31 – Mya McGraw (P.K. Yonge girls basketball)
The sophomore helped lead the Lady Blue Wave (14-1) to a 2-0 week against state-ranked teams. She just missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds in a 51-46 come-from-behind win at Class 1A #1 Trenton on Thursday, Jan. 3. She also had five blocks. The following night, McGraw scored 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a 77-59 win against Class 5A #3 Raines (Jacksonville).
December 24 – Byron Smith (P.K. Yonge boys basketball)
Smith helped lead the Blue Wave to a 3-1 record and a runner-up finish at the Hitchcock’s Challenge in Alachua. The senior averaged 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals in four games. He scored his tournament high (18 points) in a 64-57 win in overtime against Class 7A #9 Belen Jesuit (Miami) on Day #1 of the tournament. Two nights later, Smith’s corner trey with 18 seconds left against Class 7A Gainesville gave the Blue Wave a four-point lead in a 50-47 win against the Hurricanes.
December 17 – Niyah Jackson (Williston girls basketball)
Jackson was the top performer at the SAMCO Classic Christmas Tournament at Trenton, Dec. 20-22. On Thursday, the senior scored 32 points and added nine assists, two blocks, four steals and three rebounds in a win against Newberry. On Friday, she scored 26 points and added three assists and three steals and three rebounds in a loss to host Trenton. Jackson had a monster game in an upset of Class 1A No. 1 Lafayette (Mayo), scoring 49 points, while adding three assists, five steals and two rebounds. In a loss to Trenton in the championship game on Saturday, Jackson scored 22 points, and added six assists, one block, three steals, and one rebound.
December 10 – Jesse Landis (Eastside boys soccer)
The junior helped lead the Rams to a 2-0 week. He scored a goal and added an assist in a 5-0 win at Lake Weir (Ocala). Two days later, Landis scored four goals in a 7-1 win at Belleview, which ran Eastside’s undefeated streak to nine games.
December 3 – Taniah Bowers (Trenton girls basketball)
Bowers helped lead the Lady Tigers to a 3-0 week following a triple-double and a double-double. The senior flirted with a triple-double to start the week in a 59-17 win against Cedar Key. She had 13 points, 10 steals and seven assists. She followed that up with 17 points, 12 assists and 11 steals in a 72-32 win against Dixie County (Cross City). The Class 1A Tigers defeated 7A Gainesville, 52-38, at the Andy Hart Invitational at Lafayette (Mayo) to end the week. Bowers scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds, picked up nine steals, and added four assists as Trenton stayed unbeaten.
November 26 – Abbey Rivas (Santa Fe girls soccer)
The senior helped the Hawthorne football team advance to the regional championship with a 50-27 win against Crescent City in a Class 1A-Region 4 semifinal. He rushed for 225 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Fields gave the Hornets (11-0) a 20-7 lead in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run. He added a 1-yard TD in the third quarter that proved to be the game-winning score.
November 19 – No award due to Thanksgiving break
November 12 – Uveekie Fields (Hawthorne football)
The senior helped the Hawthorne football team advance to the regional championship with a 50-27 win against Crescent City in a Class 1A-Region 4 semifinal. He rushed for 225 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Fields gave the Hornets (11-0) a 20-7 lead in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run. He added a 1-yard TD in the third quarter that proved to be the game-winning score.
November 5 – Julian Hill (Buchholz boys swimming)
Hill helped lead the Bobcats to a top five finish at the FHSAA Class 4A Swimming & Diving Finals in Stuart. The Arizona State University signee won two state titles. The senior won both the 200 free (1:35.70) and the 500 free (4:22.35) as Buchholz finished in fourth place. He was also a member of the state runner-up relay teams (200 medley, 400 free).
October 29 – Lauren Jones (Oak Hall girls cross country)
The freshman helped lead the Lady Eagles to their eighth regional title in nine years. Jones finished with a time of 18:56.93 to place first and win the Class 1A-Region 2 individual title. The Oak Hall girls advanced to the program’s 18th straight state meet.
October 22 – Ella Steen (Santa Fe girls cross country)
Steen helped lead the Santa Fe girls’ cross country team to the Class 2A-District 5 title. The freshman had the Raiders’ top performance by finishing third with a time of 22:01. It was the first team title in school history for the Santa Fe girls.
October 15 – Amelia Williams (Buchholz girls golf)
The junior helped lead the Lady Bobcats to their third straight Class 3A-District 2 title. Williams shot a tournament-best 77 to help her team win by 20 strokes. It was also the sixth title in the last seven years for Buchholz, which advanced to the 3A-Region 1 tournament.
October 8 – Colby Toner (P.K. Yonge boys golf)
Toner helped lead the Blue Wave to their first Ann & John Ives Alachua County Tournament title. The junior beat his teammate, Jake Davis, in a playoff to earn the top medalist honor at the tournament. Toner, a St. Francis Catholic Academy transfer, and Davis, both shot an even-par 72. The Blue Wave finished with a team score of 308, their lowest score since 2009.
October 1 – Quinyon Mitchell (Williston football)
The senior averaged a whopping 12.6 yards per carry as the Class 1A Red Devils kept their postseason hopes alive with a 48-7 win against Class 5A Belleview on Homecoming. He carried the ball 14 times for 176 yards and two TD’s. Mitchell, a Toledo commit, leads the team with 862 yards rushing and will have a chance to eclipse 1,000 yards in his seventh game this week at Taylor County (Perry).
September 24 – Calvin Littles (St. Francis Catholic Academy football)
Littles finished with 446 yards of total offense in a 42-36 loss at rival Oak Hall on Monday, Oct. 1, a game that was postponed on Friday, Sept. 28, due to weather. The senior quarterback rushed for 249 yards on 23 carries (10.8 yards per carry) with three touchdowns. Four times during the game after an Eagles’ score, Littles answered. He finished with scoring runs of 20, 65 and 75 yards. He also threw for 197 yards and two TDs. After his 81-yard scoring toss, he ran in the 2-point conversion, his third 2-point play of the game. Littles accounted for all 36 points.
September 17 – Anthony Richardson (Eastside football)
The junior scored six touchdowns to help lead the Rams past visiting Lake Weir (Ocala) on Homecoming, 62-27. Richardson passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns. The University of Florida commit ran for an additional 157 yards and four scores, including a 49-yard scoring run and a 51-yard TD run, as Eastside (4-1) won its fourth straight game.
September 10 – Carlos Williams, Jr. (Dixie County football)
Williams had a monster game for the Bears against visiting Union County in a Class 1A-Region 3 game. The senior rushed for 308 yards on 18 carries in a 61-28 win. He finished the game with five touchdowns, including a long scoring run of 72 yards. Williams is averaging 212 yards per game through four games.
September 3 – Kylee Barry (Bell volleyball)
Barry helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to a 2-0 week. In a Class 1A-District 5 sweep of Madison County she had 39 assists, six aces, and seven digs. The senior finished with the week with 30 assists, seven aces, and eight digs in a district sweep of Hamilton County (Jasper).
August 27 – Madison Baynard (Newberry volleyball)
The senior middle blocker helped lead the Panthers (4-0) to a 2-0 week in 5A-District 4 action. Baynard had 10 kills, four digs and five blocks to help lead Newberry to a sweep at Interlachen. Two days later, she tied sophomore Grace Oelrich with a team-high 12 kills in a home sweep of Bradford (Starke). She finished with 22 kills, eight blocks, 20 service receptions and only one error in two games.
August 20 – Kahleil Jackson (Hawthorne football)
Jackson completed 12-of-19 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns as the Hornets (1-0) opened up the season with a 69-0 win at Interlachen. The 6’3, 185-pound senior also added a 20-yard scoring run. Jackson, the son of former Gator Willie Jackson, had a long scoring pass of 75 yards to junior Jeremiah James.
By Marty Pallman
GAINESVILLE (June 10) — The nine individual class finalists for the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Baseball and Baseball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school baseball coaches and prep media representatives.
GAINESVILLE, FL. – Numerous college signees and state champion players dot the rosters of the four teams for the inaugural North Florida All-Star Softball Classic.
GAINESVILLE (June 6) — The class finalists for the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Softball and Softball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school softball coaches and prep media representatives.
SOUTH ALL-STARS ROSTER
EAST ALL-STARS ROSTER
By Mike Ridaught
