Thunderstorms derail FHSAA baseball and softball playoffs

Rain and lighting continued to put a damper on baseball and softball playoffs on Friday.

Thunderstorms that began early in the day wreaked havoc on Day 1 of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s state baseball tournament in Fort Myers.

There were multiple stoppages in the two Class 6A semifinals and that pushed back Hagerty’s 7A semifinal against defending state champion Parkland Douglas. That game, originally scheduled to start at 4 p.m., didn’t begin until 9:20.

It remained to be seen whether or not the second 7A semifinal, matching Tampa Plant against Palm Beach Gardens, would be played Friday. The state championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

In girls softball, Friday’s Deltona at 4A No. 1 Eustis region final was called off after the two teams waited through a nearly two-hour weather delay. The teams will try again Saturday night at 6 as long as the field is deemed playable when checked in the afternoon.

The 7A Region 1 softball final, matching Orange Park Oakleaf (17-7) at top seed Lake Brantley (23-4), was moved to Saturday at 11 a.m. because of Oakleaf ’s Friday graduation ceremony.

Orange City University (20-8) traveled to the Panhandle to play the 6A Region 1 softball final on time. The Titans lost 11-0 Friday night against top seed Pace (25-4).

The softball state tournament is scheduled for Tuesday through Saturday of next week at the Legends Way Ball Fields complex in Clermont.

The First Academy (24-6) of Orlando and Groveland South Lake (18-11) both punched their tickets to final fours with wins in games that were moved up to Thursday based on weather forecasts.

TFA’s Hannah Harper pitched a 3-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts as the Royals won 3-0 against Mount Dora Christian (20-10) in the 2A-2 final. Molly Sheridan went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI in the win.

The 2A semifinals are Tuesday at 5 and 7 p.m., setting the stage for a Wednesday 7:30 p.m. championship game.

South Lake won 4-2 against New Port Richey River Ridge (16-12) in the 5A-2 final. Destiny Johns went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI for the Eagles. Alanna O’Brien also had 2 hits and RBI while pitching the complete game with 7 strikeouts.

The 5A semifinals are Thursday at 2 and 4 p.m., leading to a Friday 7 p.m. final.

The 6A semifinals are next Friday morning at 10 and 11:15 a.m. with the title game Saturday at 3 p.m.

The 7A semifinals are scheduled for 12:30 and 1:45 p.m. next Friday, setting up a 5:30 Saturday championship game.