The Buchholz baseball team is not used to playing doubleheaders.
As far as back-to-back games go, Wednesday night’s FHSAA Class 6A-Region 1 Quarterfinal at Bobcat Park was the first.
It was also productive, as top seed Buchholz swept No. 8 seed First Coast (Jacksonville), 5-1 and 9-2, to advance to the next round.
The Bobcats, who won their 22nd straight game at home, will host either No. 4 seed Tate or No. 5 seed Fletcher (Neptune Beach) in next Wednesday’s regional semifinals.
“I think this gives us a little bit of an advantage, a little bit more rest so we can kind of get prepared for next week,” said Buchholz coach Ron Brooks. “Luckily, it played out the way it did, but give First Coast a lot of credit. They hung in there and battled both games and made it a challenge halfway through the game.”
Buchholz senior pitcher Aidan Kastensmidt set the tone in game one.
The Jacksonville University commit threw six scoreless innings.
“I felt pretty good,” Kastensmidt said. “I felt like my command with my fastball was the main key for today because then I can throw breaking balls off that.”
He also got help from his defense as catcher Kai So threw out a pair of runners who were trying to steal bases and right fielder Justin Williams threw a runner out at the plate to complete a double play.
Kastensmidt struck out the side in order in the third inning and finished with seven strikeouts and only one walk.
“He was the guy last year for us in the playoffs,” Brooks said. “He really gave us a good start today, a really good lift. He got out there and gave us six really strong innings. If you don’t get six there, this doubleheader turns into a little bit of a different animal, so I’m really proud of his start. I’m really proud of the way he competed. He really gave us a big shot in the arm.”
In the second game, the visiting Buccaneers (17-11) scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run single by senior first baseman Kharee Phillips to tie the game at 2-2.
Buchholz answered with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the fifth.
“This team has done that a lot this year, where a team will respond against us, tie it up or something, and then all of a sudden we have a big inning to kind of combat what we just went through defensively,” Brooks said. “It was really good to see our guys do that, tough on a doubleheader…I had a lot of confidence in our guys that we could get it done today.”
So (3-for-4, double, run, RBI), a Harvard University signee, led off the inning with a single to center field. He added a second single in the inning, driving in a run, to help turn a 2-2 game into a 9-2 lead.
An error, a balk, and a bases-loaded walk by senior Stuart Ding brought home runs, but the big blow was on a high fly ball to right field by No. 9 hitter Roen Kresak (2-for-3, triple, 3 RBI).
First Coast right fielder Rob Chatman lost it in the lights and Roen ended up at third with a bases-clearing triple.
“I just got it above the lights, and he lost it,” Roen said. “I saw him put his hands up and I was just trying to get three, maybe four, but he (coach) gave me the stop sign at three.”
Senior designated hitter JJ Gardner, who signed with Jacksonville University back in November, homered twice for Buchholz.
His solo home run to center field in game two gave the Bobcats their first lead at 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
“He tweaked his hamstring last week on the mound, just didn’t know how he was going to respond, but he responded great,” Brooks said. “He had some really big swings tonight. I think it will give him a lot of confidence moving forward next week.”
Following the two-run hit by Phillips to tie, Belmont Abbey College signee Wyatt Clarke (3.1 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts) assured there wouldn’t be another Bucs’ comeback by striking out seven of the final nine batters he faced.
Junior pitcher Dion Wilburn got the start for Buchholz in the second game and threw four innings and allowed no runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Buchholz (28-1) must win two more best-of-three regionals to advance to the final four.
Kastensmidt said pitching depth is a reason that he believes a best-of-three series benefits the Bobcats.
“I think it’s better for us because of our pitching depth,” he said. “We’ve got so much depth. If one team beats us in one game, we’ve got two more good pitchers to pitch the next two.”
Class 6A-Region 1 Quarterfinal
1 Buchholz 5, 8 First Coast (Jacksonville) 1 (Game 1)
1 Buchholz 9, 8 First Coast (Jacksonville) 2 (Game 2)
Bobcats (28-1) win series 2-0
Class 5A-Region 1 Quarterfinal
5 Columbia (Lake City) 2, 4 Mosley (Lynn Haven) 1 (8)
Tigers (16-10) lead series 1-0
