1. Baker County (24-4)
For six consecutive years, Baker County agonized over early playoff exits, five of those ending in the second round. A first round win over nemesis Ponte Vedra, whom eliminated the Wildcats three straight years, seemed to be the spring board they needed to their first Final Four since 2008.
Once there, the Wildcats held off Belleview 6-4 and won a 1-0 thriller over American Heritage to claim the school’s first state title.
Can they go back-to-back? Thirteen of the 14 players return, including 10 who hit .300 or better, for head coach Frank Griffis.
Both ace pitchers are back, including junior Macy Jackson (15-2, 1.15 ERA) and senior Callie Paine (7-2, 1.63 ERA). Those two will be heavily counted on as will be sophomore Morgan Smith (2-0, 1.27 ERA).
Offensively, the Wildcats are set with the return of seniors Ashton Alford (.365, 9 RBI, 4 DB, 1 TP, 1 HR), Payton Parker (.365, 12 RBI, 2 DB, 6 TP), Brandie Callaway (.350, 14 RBI, 6 DB, 3 TP), Dee Washington (.358, 14 RBI, 5 DB, 1 TP) and Paine (.290, 11 RBI, 2 DB, 1 TP).
Among the underclassmen expecting to contribute are sophomore Tori Richardson (.323, 17 RBI, 2 DB, 1 TP, 2 HR), junior Madison Kennedy (.477, 34 RBI, 9 DB, 3 TP, 5 HR), sophomore Taylor Dyal (.341, 11 RBI, 2 DB, 1 TP), sophomore Emma Gibson (.377, 19 RBI, 7 DB, 3 HR), junior Hayleigh Mulkey (.408, 22 RBI, 8 DB, 1 HR) and Jackson (.345, 9 RBI, 4 DB, 1 TP, 1 HR).
2. West Nassau (17-13)
‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride‘ could be a constant motto for the West Nassau softball program.
Five times (1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) the Warriors made it to the Final Four; five times they failed to win a game – until now.
West Nassau shut out Santa Fe 6-0 in the semifinal before losing 3-1 to Coral Springs Charter in the championship game.
Now that the Warriors have brought home a runner-up trophy and second place medals, can they make another run and finally bring home the elusive state title?
Not one single player graduated last season, so the Warriors have more than enough talent to get back to Vero Beach and bring home a state title.
It all starts with senior shortstop Kaycie Kelly, who batted .396 with 16 RBI, 8 doubles, 6 triples and had 30 stolen bases.
Other players to keep an eye on are senior catcher Peyton Guerrin, senior infielder Lauren Hoggarth, senior infielder MacKenzie Gray, junior infielder/pitcher Amelin Olive, junior infielder MacKenzie Padgett, junior infielder Hailey Wills, junior infielder/pitcher Ariel McCullough, junior catcher Jenna Porter and junior outfielder Elissa Weeks.
3. Oakleaf (17-13)
In just five short years, Oakleaf coach Christina Thompson has done an amazing job with the young Knight program.
Thompson, who won a state championship at Clay in 2001, has guided the Knights to five consecutive trips to the playoffs including last season’s remarkable run to the Final Four.
The Knights were three outs away from playing for their first state championship last season. Holding a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Rachel Mazzurco had other ideas, launching a dramatic walk-off, two-run home run over the left field fence to end the Knights’ season and send Ocala Forest into the championship game.
If that isn’t enough fuel for the upcoming season, I don’t know what is.
Among the returnees are junior pitcher Kelsey Sweatt (13-8, 1.33 ERA, 223 K), junior infielder Mika Garcia (.366, 18 RBI, 9 DB) and sophomore Rebecca Koskey, who was named second team all-state.
4. Creekside (25-6)
Despite being a young program, the Knights have clearly built a solid foundation for current and future teams.
Creekside nearly made it three consecutive trips to the Final Four before losing a 5-3 close one to Oakleaf in the Elite 8. Three years ago, the Knights finished as state runner-ups and followed that with a loss in the state semifinals two years ago.
What is it going to take for the Knights to get back to the Final Four again? The good news is that they won’t have to deal with Oakleaf anymore, and outside of archrivals Bartram Trail and Columbia, the Knights have a favorable run to Vero Beach.
Among the key returnees are FSU commit and senior shortstop Leslie Farris (.404, 14 RBI, 3 HR) and junior pitcher Lexie Schivley (9-4, 1.59 ERA).
5. Suwannee (21-9)
For years, Suwannee couldn’t even get past the second round of the playoffs, but that all changed with a run to the Final Four three years ago.
Suwannee nearly went back to the Final Four last season before running into a hot Baker County in the Elite 8.
Can the Bulldogs make another run to Vero Beach?
The key returnees include senior catcher and Florida signee Jordan Roberts (.458, 24 RBI, 5 HR, .833 slugging percentage), senior outfielder Alexis Brown (.515 8 DB, 15 RBI) and senior infielder Blakely Burch (.414, 7 HR, 4 TP, 8 DB, 2 grandslams).
6. University Christian (19-6)
Whatever Chuck Roberts is selling at University Christian, his girls are buying and getting the message.
UC had not seen a playoff game in 17 years until Roberts guided them in 2013 to the first round, which paved the way for a third round advancement in 2014 and last year’s first ever trip to the Final Four.
UC knocked off state power NFC in the Elite 8 to reach Vero Beach before falling to eventual state champion Lakeland Christian 4-1 in the semifinals.
The Christians return several key players: senior pitcher Tracy Caccavale (16-6, 146 K, hit .420, 30 RBI, 2 HR); senior catcher Kara Eiginger (.426, 24 RBI, 3 HR); junior first baseman Hannah Roberts, who was named the Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year; and freshman outfielder Nyah Morgan and senior outfielder Emily Cooper, who were both named second team All-State.
7. Atlantic Coast (26-6)
James Greek finally got the Stingrays over the hump, winning the school’s first ever playoff game and guiding the Rays to the Elite 8 before falling to Tate.
Getting out of the district is a bigger concern right now with the addition of Fleming Island, First Coast, Fletcher, and Oakleaf.
If the Stingrays are able to get out of the district and make another long playoff run, it will likely be because of junior pitcher Taylor Bauman (24-5, 200 K, 1.05 ERA, hit 3 HR) and senior second baseman Nikki Grupp (.456, 19 RBI, 9 DB, 2 TP, 3 HR).
8. Bartram Trail (23-7)
For years, the area’s most dominant program was always Bartram Trail. Under Jen Harman, the Bears rattled off 12 consecutive playoff appearances, advanced to five Final Fours, and won two state titles.
The opening of archrival Creekside took a toll on the Bears, who saw their streak of 13 consecutive playoff appearances end in 2014. It’s been five years since the Bears have reached the third round and also reached a Final Four.
Senior pitcher Fayth Davis (14-7, 1.14, hit .449, 47 RBI, 5 HR) and sophomore infielder Reedy Davenport (.427, 21 RBI, 16 SB, 40 runs, 12 extra base hits) are back and looking to lead the Bears back to the Final Four.
9. Clay (22-6)
From 1998 to 2009, Clay was a dominant force in the area, making the playoffs 11 of 12 years, but that changed when Oakleaf opened up.
Longtime coach Matt Lewis, who guided the Blue Devils to their only state championship in 2001, guided Clay back in the playoffs in 2014 after a five-year layoff.
Clay fell to Baker County in the second round of the playoffs last season, which should help fuel the fire for a potentially long playoff run.
If that’s to happen, it will come at the hands of sophomore infielder Hope Hamilton (.520, 5 HR, 49 RBI) and senior ace pitcher Ashley Stokes (19-6, 219 K, 0.74 also .389, 23 RBI, 2 HR).
10. Mandarin (19-10)
Five seniors are gone, including go-to player Kendall Reid, now at UCF. The Mustangs are always in the mix come playoff time, so don’t expect that to change this year.
How well the Mustangs do this year will depend on seniors Leighton Cleveland, Jillian Stallings, Jordenne Gaten, Mary Magee, and Rebecca Nathans and juniors Jacobia Johnson, Julie Butler, Kaleigh Sauls, and Lauren Atherton.
Honorable Mention: Bishop Snyder (15-8), Bolles (13-9), Columbia (15-10), Ed White (17-9), Fleming Island (23-5), Keystone Heights (15-10), Orange Park (12-11), Ponte Vedra (13-12), Sandalwood (16-12), St. Johns Country Day (16-7)
Top 5 Players (Not on ranked teams)
- Shelby Wilkerson (Jr., P)-Wilkerson was the ace of the Bradford pitching staff, going 20-3 on the mound with a 1.34 ERA and allowing 99 hits in 156 innings to go along with five shutouts. At the plate, Wilkerson hit .265 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 6 RBI.
- Kamdyn Kvistad (Jr., DP)-Kvistad, a South Alabama commit, led Columbia in hitting, batting .406 with 7 home runs, 3 doubles, and 22 RBI.
- Claudia Cotto (Jr., 2B)-Cotto hit .433 with 27 RBI for Ponte Vedra last season in a disappointing season for the Sharks.
- Kinsey Glasgow (Sr., OF)-Glasgow was one of the few bright spots for Episcopal last season, hitting .547 with 9 doubles and 5 home runs.
- Kristen Sterling (So., OF)-Sterling was one of the bright spots during a rebuilding year for Baldwin hitting .535 with 4 home runs and 24 stolen bases.
Districts/Projections
1-9A: Mandarin, Palm Coast, Sandalwood
Projection: 1-Mandarin, 2-Sandalwood
2-8A: Atlantic Coast, First Coast, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Lee, Oakleaf
Projection: 1-Oakleaf, 2-Atlantic Coast
3-7A: Columbia, Gainesville, Middleburg, Vanguard
Projection: 1-Columbia, 2-Gainesville
4-7A: Bartram Trail, Creekside, Englewood, Nease, St. Augustine
Projection: 1-Creekside, 2-Bartram Trail
3-6A: Ed White, Paxon, Parker, Stanton, Westside, Wolfson
Projection: 1-Ed White, 2-Paxon
4-6A: Clay, Menendez, Orange Park, Ponte Vedra, Ridgeview
Projection: 1-Clay, 2-Orange Park
3-5A: Baker County, Bolles, Suwannee
Projection: 1-Baker County, 2-Suwannee
4-5A: Bishop Kenny, Fernandina Beach, Raines, Ribault, West Nassau, Yulee
Projection: 1-West Nassau, 2-Yulee
5-5A: Bradford, Keystone Heights, PK Yonge, Palatka, Santa Fe
Projection: 1-Keystone Heights, 2-Santa Fe
2-4A: Bishop Snyder, Duval Charter, Episcopal, Interlachen, Jackson, Providence, Trinity
Projection: 1-Bishop Snyder, 2-Providence
2-3A: Oak Hall, St. Francis, St. Johns, St. Joseph, University Christian
Projection: 1-UC, 2-St. Johns
2-2A: Calvary, Eagle’s View, First Coast Christian, Harvest, Peniel, Seacoast
Projection: 1-Eagle’s View, 2-First Coast Christian
6-1A: Baldwin, Fort White, Hawthorne, Hilliard, Newberry, Union County, Williston
Projection: 1-Union County, 2-Baldwin
8-1A: Crescent City, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Pahokee, Pierson Taylor, Wildwood
Projection: 1-Pierson Taylor, 2-Crescent City
Preview/North Florida/February 2015
St. Johns, Duval, Clay, Florida
Corey Davis
2016 High School Softball Preview
