Thursday’s area district finals
Class 7A, District 6
Newsome 7, Winter Haven 1
Thanks to a quick start, the top-seeded Wolves won a title.
Newsome scored three runs in the first inning and added three more in the second for a 6-0 lead.
The Wolves have five of their last six games, including three straight victories.
Samantha Walz went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The USF signee also stole two bases to set the single season school record with 25.
Others who did well on offense include Ciera Diaz, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Maria Brooks, who was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Brooks also threw a two-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out nine.
Class 6A, District 6
Gaither 5, Wiregrass Ranch 1
For the second time this season, the Cowboys beat the Bulls, this time for a district title.
Mimi Gooden threw a three-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out 12.
Gaither gave its senior ace plenty of run support. Megan Loughren went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Gooden and Jeirany Taveras each had two hits and an RBI.
The Cowboys have now won eight straight games.
Class 6A, District 7
Bloomingdale 2, Palmetto 1
Natalie Cable threw a two-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out 16 to lead the Bulls to a title.
Marley Boucher went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Camryn Vangalder ended up going 2-for-2 and Livia Velasco drove in Bloomingdale’s other run.
The Bulls enter the playoffs on a four-game win streak and have have allowed just two runs during that stretch.
Class 5A, District 8
Osceola 10, Countryside 0
For the second time this season the Warriors shutout the Cougars, the latest coming in the district final.
It was the second straight title for Osceola.
After losing four of six games late in the regular season, the Warriors were able to turn things around when it counted.
They hav won their last three games, two via shutouts.
Class 5A, District 10
Parrish Community 15, East Bay 0
The Indians had a tough task facing the Bulls, who are ranked No. 1 in the class and No. 5 in the state by MaxPreps.
Parrish Community took home a title in a game that was called after four innings because of the mercy rule.
Isabella Vega threw a no-hit shutout for the Bulls.
Class 5A, District 5
Pasco 7, Lecanto 6 (11 innings)
The Pirates jumped out to a 5-2 lead after the first two innings, watched as the Panthers tied it, then won in the 11th inning in a thriller.
Cat Durden and Morgan Montelongo each went 3-for-6 and Mariah Bennett drove in three runs to lead Pasco on offense. Durden also had a triple and double and drove in two runs.
Montelongo went the distance on the mound and recorded nine strikeouts.
The Pirates have now won three straight and six of their last seven games.
Class 4A, District 5
Citrus 8, Nature Coast 7
The Sharks nearly brought home a title.
Leading 7-5, Nature Coast allowed the top-seeded Hurricanes to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win.
Class 4A, District 9
Robinson 16, Jefferson 1
Playing a challenging schedule helped the Knights cruise to a district title.
Robinson beat King in the semifinals and Jefferson in the final by a combined 31-1.
In the final, the Knights jumped out to an 8-0 first inning lead in a game that was called after four innings because of the mercy rule.
Kaylin Merritt went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Araya Stearns ended up going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. And Riley Onisawa finished 2-for-2.
Kohana Pousson threw a two-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out 10.
Class 4A, District 10
Clearwater 7, Dunedin 5
For the first time in 23 years, the Tornadoes are district champions.
Clearwater did it by extending its win streak to four games and beating the Falcons for the second time this season.
The Tornadoes had 14 hits, including three each by Taylor Piechocki and Sydney Wilhelm and two each by Camryn Busch, Abbee Klinefelter and Jadah Nicholls.
Nicholls, Piechocki and Wilhelm each had two RBIs, as well.
Dunedin was led on offense by Jillian Ellison, McKenzie Feeney and Cael Rodgers, all of whom had two hits.
Class 3A, District 6
Hernando 13, South Sumter 3
The two-time defending state finalist Leopards are poised for another deep postseason run, as evidenced by their impressive performance in the district tournament.
Hernando beat Crystal River in the semifinals and South Sumter in the final by a combined 16-4.
In the final, the Leopards had 15 hits, including three each by Hannah Taylor and Carolanne McClelland and two each by Ava Braswell, Sydney Cline, Ariana Covell and Aryanna Eliopoulos. Cline also had four RBIs and Taylor added two.
On the mound, Braswell did her part, too, throwing a five-hitter and allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out four.
Hernando has now won 10 straight games.
Class 3A, District 9
Academy of the Holy Names 8, Berkeley Prep 4
The Jaguars put everything together when it mattered most, beating the rival Buccaneers for the second time this season to extend their current win streak to four.
Unlike the first meeting, a 2-0 pitcher’s duel. Thursday’s final had more offensive fireworks.
KK Hollenkamp had two homers, a double and three RBIs. Teammates Clare Bohinick and Elise McQuiston each had two hits.
The Buccaneers were led by Grace Murphy, who had two doubles and three RBIs.
Class 3A, District 11
Calvary Christian 10, Clearwater Central Catholic 0
Last year, the Warriors won a state title as a district runnerup.
This time, Calvary Christian enters the playoffs as the 3A-11 champion.
The Warriors were dominant, beating the rival Marauders in a game that was called after six innings because of the mercy rule.
Morgen Talley threw a no-hit shutout and was one walk away from a perfect game. She also recorded 12 strikeouts.
At the plate, Talley also delivered with a solo homer. Kaelyn Doldt went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Reagan Lavina ended up going 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.
Class 2A, District 6
Academy at the Lakes 12, Hernando Christian 2
After closing the regular season with six straight losses. all against quality opponents, the Wildcats knew they had a solid chance to rebound once the district tournament started this week.
Those tough matchups paid off.
Academy at the Lakes cruised to the title, beating Bishop McLaughin in the semifinals and Hernando Christian in the final by a combined 31-2.
Sydney Klein went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Adelaide Aliano and Kiana Wright each went 2-for-3 to lead the Wildcats on offense in the final against the Lions. Klein also threw a two-hitter, allowing two earned runs while striking out 12.
Class 2A, District 10
Canterbury 14, Lakeside Christian 0
Despite entering the district tournament with a 6-19 record, the Crusaders were the overwhelming favorite to win a title.
That had a lot to do with who Canterbury played in the regular season.
The Crusaders put together a schedule that yielded few easy nights, playing title-contending teams in higher classifications on a seemingly nightly basis.
Their plan paid off.
Canterbury won two straight games for the first time since the start of the season, beating Indian Rocks Christian in the semifinals and Lakeside Christian in the final by a combined 30-0.
Tayten Moore powered the offense by going 4-for-4 with a homer, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored against the Lions in the title game. Katrina Schaffner went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Alayah Pedersen had two hits, including a homer, and four RBIs. Cali Baust and Makaylah each had two hits, as well.
That was plenty of support for Samantha Beltran, who threw at two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a game that ended early because of the mercy rule.
