Here is the capsule for the area’s lone team in the 3A state semifinals. The winner advances to Wednesday’s championship game.
State semifinals
All games are played at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. Tickets are $12 and are available via GoFan. Parking is $10 for cars and $50 for buses (cash only).
Class 3A
Berkeley Prep (27-3) vs. The Villages (20-7), 10 a.m., today
How they got here: Berkeley Prep d. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 6-2, d. Calvary Christian 4-1, d. Lakeland Christian 8-5. The Villages d. FSU High 3-1, d. Jacksonville Providence School 1-0, Fernandina Beach 2-1.
Stat leaders
Category | Berkeley Prep | The Villages |
Batting average | Cade Kurland, .494 | Kyle Mayberry, .383 |
Home runs | Cade Kurland, 12 | Three tied with one. |
RBIs | James Hankerson, 39 | Three tied with 15. |
ERA | JT Quinn, 1.14 | James Garvey, 0.74 |
Strikeouts | JT Quinn, 77 | Carter Parks, 79 |
Outlook
The Buccaneers are returning to the state semifinals for the first time since 2016. From 2010-16, the program had an impressive run with one state title and two runneup finishes during that span. This year’s team is a veteran group that incudes eight players who have committed to colleges: Gunnett Carlson (Florida State), Anthony Castillo (Tallahassee Community College), James Hankerson (Wake Forest), Andrew Jergins (Georgetown), Cade Kurland (Florida), Owen McElfatrick (Northwestern) and JT Quinn (Mississippi). Kurland has played on varsity since seventh grade and holds just about every offensive record at the school. Quinn likely will be selected in the first three rounds of the MLB Draft. Berkeley Prep got here by knocking off Calvary Christian in the region semifinals after losing to its rival three times before that. After making the region finals three times in the last six seasons, the Buffalo took the next step with its first state semifinal appearance.