Swinging for the fences
Softball season set to begin: Top players, teams to watch Baseball teams, players to watch as season starts up this week
The 2024 Florida High School Athletic Association softball season begins this week. See top teams and players to watch across Northeast Florida.
9 TEAMS TO WATCH
Baker County
Arm alert. With the one-two combination of juniors Rylee Walker (8-8, 1.69 ERA, 89 K) and Chloe Woods (10-1, 1.19 ERA, 103 K), the Wildcats have more than enough pitching for almost every opponent. The question mark is run production, but most of Baker County’s best hitters are back for the new season’s start, including Brooklyn Davis (.315), Baleigh Shields (.351) and Haley Marker (.402, 4 HR) on the infield.
Baldwin
An early favorite to make a return trip to the state final four. This lineup is thoroughly loaded, with top batters including infielders Jazmine RamosMerced (.430, 10 2B, 8 HR, 33 RBI) and Kendall North (.283, 9 2B), catcher Cali Hartung (.348, 5 HR) and outfielder Chloe Gotto (.396, 7 2B). And in the circle is Seminole State College signee Shaylen Byrd (24-5, 1.86 ERA, 229 K). Expect another banner year in B-Town.
Creekside
Among the best all-around teams in St. Johns County. They’ll bring back the precision of Daytona State College signee Kaylee Martineau (20 BB, 1.74 ERA, .366 average) along with battle-tested seniors Bella Campbell (.363, 6 2B, 25 RBI), Cora Middleton (.442, 7 2B, 28 RBI, 1.126 OPS) and Riley Waters (.371, 7 2B, 2 HR). Creekside narrowly missed a 20-win season.
The 2024 Florida High School Athletic Association baseball season begins this week across Northeast Florida. The Times-Union previews some of the top teams and players to watch.
9 TEAMS TO WATCH
Bolles
The magic word is pitching. Bolles has that in abundance, beginning with hard-throwing Clemson signee Chayce Kieck (5-5, 1.92 ERA, 98 K in 65 2/3 innings). Kieck enters 2024 among Florida’s top mound prospects, and there’s depth behind him in Samford signee David Martin (2-2, 2 saves, 3.25 ERA, 35 K in 28 IP) and Tommy Brice (4-3, 1.49 ERA, 65 K in 42 1/3 IP).
Clay
Denied a final-four berth by Columbia in the regional championship last year, Clay enters 2024 especially strong at the top of the order. Center fielder Cole Carnell (.412, 8 2B, 4 3B, 1.138 OPS) made big strides in his sophomore year, and the Blue Devils also return L.J. Martin (.364 average), third baseman Parker Lowrance (.318, 2 HR, 18 RBI) and the junior pitcher pair of Merrick Rapoza (1.77 ERA, 48 K in 35 2/3 IP) and Jacksonville University commit Easton McMahan (7-1, 1.84 ERA, 63 K in 57 IP).
Creekside
The Knights won 18 games last year and should be among St. Johns County’s top contenders. Catcher/third baseman Carson McFarlin, committed to Flagler College, provides much of the pop (.324, 6 2B, 2 HR) along with junior Sean Ashenfelder (.333, 3 3B, 25 steals). Creekside really shines on the mound, where Roman