With district champions now decided, attention across the state fully shifts to the 2023 Florida high school baseball state postseason, which begins later this week. Following are our playoff predictions for Classes 1A-7A.
Class 7A
We begin our Florida high school baseball playoff predictions in the state’s highest classification, 7A, where the Stoneman Douglas Eagles are attempting to complete one of two potential three-peats across the state this May.
The Favorite: Stoneman Douglas
Having won the last two Class 7A state titles, Stoneman Douglas enters the playoffs as the arguable favorite once again, with the Eagles sitting undefeated at 24-0. The 7A-District 13 champions have outscored opponents a combined 196-27 this season, and they currently hold the No. 1 overall spot in our latest Top 25 rankings, which they have held all year.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Lake Mary
As for the biggest threat to Stoneman Douglas winning another title in 7A, there are certainly multiple teams to potentially choose from, but the pick goes to Lake Mary (22-1). The 7A-District 2 champion Rams are one of the state’s hottest teams as we enter the playoffs. They’ve allowed only 37 runs all season while scoring 170 themselves.
Teams to Watch For
Miami Columbus, Park Vista, Windermere, Vero Beach
Final Four Prediction
Lake Mary, Windermere, Park Vista, Stoneman Douglas
Championship Prediction
Lake Mary vs. Stoneman Douglas
Champion Prediction
Stoneman Douglas
Class 6A
6A is the first of a few classifications in which you could argue there is not a clear state title favorite, as many teams are in the mix at the top entering the playoffs.
The Favorite: Pace
After finishing last season as the state runner-up in Class 6A, the Pace Patriots have returned with a phenomenal 2023 campaign to own a 24-2 overall record and a 6A-District 1 title entering the playoffs. The Patriots could very well be the favorite in Class 6A this season, having lost to only one in-state team through May 6, while also outscoring opponents a combined 175-53.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Sickles
A team that could very easily hold the label of “the favorite” as well, Sickles is likely the biggest threat to a Pace state title. The Gryphons, who are the 6A-District 10 champions, have been just as dominant as Pace this season, outscoring opponents a combined 190-56 to sit at 25-2 for the year.
Teams to Watch For
Doral Academy, East Lake, Buchholz, Mosley
Final Four Prediction
Pace, Viera, Sickles, Doral Academy
Championship Prediction
Pace vs. Sickles
Champion Prediction
Pace
Class 5A
Class 5A has a clear favorite on our list of Florida high school baseball playoff predictions, and it’s a team that also won the state title in this class last year.
The Favorite: Jesuit
The defending Class 5A state champions, Jesuit enters the playoffs once again in the midst of a strong season, sitting at 23-4 overall. Jesuit, the 5A-District 9 champions, is outscoring opponents a combined 216-71 and could very well be set for a two-peat this May.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Archbishop McCarthy
The biggest threat to a Jesuit repeat could come from the Archbishop McCarthy Mustangs, who sit at 22-5 for the year. The 5A-District 15 champions, Archbishop McCarthy is likely set to eclipse its regional quarterfinal exit from a year ago, and could do so in a big way this May.
Teams to Watch For
Columbia, Island Coast, Clay, American Heritage
Final Four Prediction
Columbia, Lake Wales, Jesuit, Archbishop McCarthy
Championship Prediction
Columbia vs. Jesuit
Champion Prediction
Jesuit
Class 4A
Class 4A is yet another one of those classifications that will be intriguing to follow this month. Numerous teams crowd the title picture as we make our Florida high school baseball playoff predictions
The Favorite: South Walton
Throughout Class 4A this season, few teams, if any, have impressed more than the South Walton Seahawks. They’re the likely state title favorite in this classification. The 4A-District 1 champions sit at 23-3 overall for the year, and have outscored opponents a combined 232-46.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Merritt Island
The Mustangs enter the playoffs at 22-3 overall as 4A-District 8 champions, and they have outscored opponents a combined 194-41 so far this season.
Teams to Watch For
North Marion, Key West, Jensen Beach, Dunedin
Final Four Prediction
South Walton, Merritt Island, Dunedin, Key West
Championship Prediction
South Walton vs. Key West
Champion Prediction
South Walton
Class 3A
Stoneman Douglas isn’t the only Florida high school baseball team attempting to three-peat as state champions this May. The same can be said for North Broward Prep in 3A, a classification that could offer the most intriguing playoff action this season. Our Florida high school baseball playoff for Class 3A are:
The Favorite: Calvary Christian-Clearwater
The Class 3A favorite label goes to Calvary Christian-Clearwater, which sits at 23-4 for the season. The Class 3A-District 6 champions, Calvary Christian has outscored opponents a combined 211-52 and has as good a pitching staff as any team across the state, led by the senior trio of Landen Maroudis, Hunter Dietz, and Liam Peterson.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Montverde Academy
With numerous teams to choose from, Montverde Academy could be a team to watch for as the potential biggest threat to the Warriors and a state title. The 3A-District 9 champions, Montverde Academy sits at 23-3 overall for the year, having allowed only 38 runs all season, while also having scored 236 themselves.
Teams to Watch For
North Broward Prep, Providence, Trinity Christian-Jacksonville, Benjamin
Final Four Prediction
Trinity Christian-Jacksonville, Calvary Christian-Clearwater, Montverde Academy, Westminster Christian
Championship Prediction
Calvary Christian-Clearwater vs. Montverde Academy
Champion Prediction
Calvary Christian-Clearwater
Class 2A
Class 2A is also one of the most intriguing this postseason, as there are at least three teams for which you could make an argument as the favorite. However, as you know, that label can only go to one.
The Favorite: St. Johns Country Day
As for who that team is, a strong case can be made for the St. Johns Country Day Spartans, who fell in the regional finals a year ago. The Class 2A-District 2 champion Spartans are having yet another strong season, sitting at 22-4 overall and outscoring opponents 222-75 so far.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: The First Academy
First Academy easily could hold the label of favorite as well and they Royals (25-2) could end up in the state title picture come late May. They have lost to an in-state team only once this season, with the 2A-District 7 champions having outscored opponents 217-56 for the year.
Teams to Watch For
Canterbury, Orangewood Christian, Lakeland Christian, Northside Christian
Final Four Prediction
St. Johns Country Day, The First Academy, Canterbury, Miami Christian
Championship Prediction
St. Johns Country Day vs. Canterbury
Champion Prediction
St. Johns Country Day
Class 1A
We conclude our Florida high school baseball playoff predictions here with Class 1A, where there is a clearcut favorite entering the postseason coming off a strong regular season.
The Favorite: Lafayette
Few teams in Class 1A have impressed more this season than the Lafayette Hornets. Sitting at 19-4 for the year, the 1A-District 6 champions have outscored opponents 187-54, and they appear set to eclipse their regional final run in the playoffs a year ago.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Union County
The “biggest threat” label arguably goes to Union County; the Fightin’ Tigers previously defeated the Hornets 4-3 back on March 2 and fell by a final score of 9-8 last week. Union County sits at 17-8 overall for the year, outscoring opponents a combined 168-108.
Teams to Watch For
Bozeman, Trenton, Northview, Port St. Joe
Final Four Prediction
Northview, Bozeman, Lafayette, Trenton
Championship Prediction
Bozeman vs. Lafayette
Champion Prediction
Lafayette
