JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Baldwin, Matanzas, Paxon and University Christian are the final area softball teams still standing in the state playoffs.
Paxon and Matanzas won in walk-off fashion on Wednesday night, moving on the Thursday night’s regional finals.
Matanzas hurler Leah Stevens struck out 20 and drove in both runs as the Pirates edged Middleburg 2-1 in eight innings. Stevens homered in the first inning and then doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to send the Pirates (23-1) to the third round. They visit Niceville next.
The Golden Eagles erased a bottom of the seventh deficit, pushing two runs across in a 5-4 win over Suwannee in Region 1-3A. Paxon (19-5) will visit Wakulla next.
Baldwin used a homer from Raven Watson and a pair of hits apiece from Rylan Gray and Hayden Peebles to beat Episcopal 7-4 in Region 1-2A. The Indians (21-6) will visit North Bay Haven in the regional finals.
Dixie and Piper Tessier combined to whiff 10 in a two-hit effort as University Christian blanked Harvest Community 8-0 in Region 1-1A. Mila Lackowski, Sinai Tunsill and Piper Tessier all had two-hit games for UC. The Christians will host North Florida Christian in the regional final.
Regional finals
May 15 schedule
Region 1-5A
(2) Matanzas (23-1) at (1) Niceville (20-6)
Region 1-3A
(2) Paxon (19-5) at (1) Wakulla (21-4)
Region 1-2A
(2) Baldwin (21-6) at (1) North Bay Haven (23-3)
Region 1-1A
(2) Tallahassee North Florida Christian (15-8) at (1) University Christian (19-4)
Regional semifinals
Wednesday, May 13 results
Region 1-7A
(2) Hagerty 4, (6) Creekside 2
Region 1-6A
(1) Pace 5, (4) Oakleaf 0
Region 1-5A
(1) Matanzas 2, (3) Middleburg 1 (8 innings)
Region 1-4A
(4) Arnold 2, (1) Baker County 1 (8 innings)
(2) Fort Walton Beach 4, (3) Columbia 3
Region 1-3A
(2) Paxon 5, (6) Suwannee 4
Region 1-2A
(2) Baldwin 7, (3) Episcopal 4
Region 1-1A
(1) University Christian 8, (5) Harvest Community 0
Regional quarterfinals
Wednesday, May 7 results
Region 1-4A
(1) Baker County 12, (8) Choctawhatchee 2
(4) Arnold 10, (5) Clay 1
(2) Fort Walton Beach 11, (7) Menendez 1
(3) Columbia 16, (6) Escambia 0
Region 1-3A
(1) Wakulla 10, (8) Bishop Kenny 0
(4) West Florida 2, (5) Yulee 1
(2) Paxon 13, (7) South Walton 3, played Tuesday
(6) Suwannee 1, (3) West Nassau 0
Region 2-3A
(3) Crystal River 3, (6) Palatka 0
Region 1-2A
(2) Baldwin 11, (7) Freeport 0
(3) Episcopal 7, (6) Bishop Snyder 0
Region 2-2A
(2) Trinity Catholic 4, (7) Keystone Heights 2
Region 1-1A
(1) University Christian 16, (8) Rocky Bayou Christian 0
(5) Harvest Community 11, (4) Peniel Baptist 9
(2) North Florida Christian 13, (7) Christ’s Church 3
(3) St. John Paul II 3, (6) St. Joseph 0
Thursday, May 8 results
Region 1-7A
(5) Apopka 10, (4) Atlantic Coast 9
(6) Creekside 3, (3) Spruce Creek 1
Region 1-6A
(1) Pace 11, (8) Fletcher 0
(4) Oakleaf (2, (5) Bartram Trail 1
Region 1-5A
(4) Chiles 5, (5) Fleming Island 3
(2) Matanzas 1, (7) Ponte Vedra 0
(3) Middleburg 5, (6) Milton 1
Rural
(2) Branford 6, (3) Fort White 0
(1) Madison County 4, (4) Union County 2
