Tuesday night’s softball game between host Gainesville High and Belleview featured a pair of teams who were playing their best ball of the season.
The visiting Rattlers, who entered the game with a 10-game winning streak, scored the first run, but GHS scored five unanswered in a 5-1 win in the FHSAA Class 5A-District 5 semifinals at Boulware Park.
“I thought we played a pretty complete game tonight,” said GHS coach Chris Chronister. “I’m really happy with the way we played all the way around. McKenna (O’Sullivan) started us off and did a really good job in the circle, and Leanna (Bourdage) finished up strong…overall, I’m really happy with the way we hit, and defensively, I thought we played a pretty good game too.”
Belleview (16-9) scored its only run in the second inning with two outs on an RBI single by junior pitcher Ya’mari Reynolds.
O’Sullivan (4 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts) gave up a leadoff double to senior left fielder Harper Foote to start the third inning but she worked out of the jam and didn’t allow the run to score.
She retired the final five batters that she faced, including two strikeouts.
“McKenna has been great for us all season,” Chronister said. “She has worked really hard on her pitching, and it shows up out here every time we play. She’s consistent. She’s going to throw strikes for us and get outs, and that’s what we need.”
GHS (14-7), which had won 11 of its last 13 games, got the only runs it would need in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Bourdage singled to start the inning, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Adriana Koralewski, who scored on a bases-loaded walk for a 2-1 lead.
“We seem to be in the habit of giving up runs early,” Chronister said. “It doesn’t bother this team because we know that we have the bats, and if we just follow our model that we’re going to score a couple of runs at least. I don’t think they were ever worried about being down 1-0, and I know that I personally was not. They just have a good mindset and approach the game the right way.”
Bourdage entered the circle in the top of the fifth and struck out the side.
In fact, she struck out all nine batters that she faced on a total of 34 pitches.
“That’s what she can bring,” Chronister said. “I don’t think she’s 100% healthy right now, but for that amount of time that she is in there, she can bring exactly what she brought for us last year. Another dominating performance for her when she comes in. It just brings a lot of energy to the team when she comes in.”
GHS added some insurance on an RBI bloop single to center field by Lana Renicks for a 3-1 lead.
Bourdage, who had walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher, scored on the hit.
Hawthorne transfer Madisyn Gillins doubled down the third base line to plate Olivia Lockerman, and Braylin Cook doubled in Gillins for a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
“Madi had a great game today,” Chronister said. “Our plate appearances were all quality appearances, not swinging at bad pitches for the most part, and really taking what they give you. Madi did a great job…she has been great for us all season and came through tonight too.”
The No. 2 seed Hurricanes will travel to top seed Deltona (14-3) at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the district championship. GHS faced Deltona last season in the Class 5A-Region 1 Quarterfinals. The Hurricanes defeated the Wolves, 12-1.
“We’re expecting a dog fight,” Chronister said. “We told the girls that Belleview is a good team, but we’re probably going to face a better team on Thursday, so we just have to be ready, bring our ‘A’ game, and play our game. If we play the way we played tonight, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
FHSAA Softball district tournaments
(Teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)
Dates & times are subject to change
Class Rural-District 6 at Branford
Quarterfinals – Monday, April 28
4 Bell 10, 5 Dixie County (Cross City) 0
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
1 Fort White 9, 4 Bell 0
2 Branford 6, 3 Union County (Lake Butler) 0
Championship – Thursday, May 1
1 Fort White at 2 Branford, 7 p.m.
Class Rural-District 7 at Williston
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, April 29
4 Chiefland 12, 5 Hawthorne 0
3 Bronson 14, 6 Wildwood 0
Semifinals – Wednesday, April 30
1 Trenton vs. 4 Chiefland, 5 p.m.
3 Bronson at 2 Williston, 7 p.m.
Championship – Thursday, May 1
TBD, 7 p.m.
Class 1A-District 4 at Peniel Baptist Academy Palatka)
Semifinals – Monday, April 28
1 Peniel Baptist Academy (Palatka) 16, 4 St. Francis Catholic Academy 1
2 St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) 15, 3 Countryside Christian 5
Class 2A-District 3 at Higher Seeds
Semifinals – Monday, April 28
1 Baldwin 15, 4 Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 1
2 Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) 12, 3 Bradford (Starke) 2
Class 2A-District 5 at Keystone Heights
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
1 Newberry 12, 4 Interlachen 2
2 Keystone Heights 7, 3 P.K. Yonge 4
Championship, May 1
1 Newberry at 2 Keystone Heights, 7 p.m.
Class 3A-District 2 at Higher Seed
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
2 Suwannee (Live Oak) 16, 3 Gadsden County (Havana) 0
Championship – Thursday, May 1
2 Suwannee (Live Oak) at 1 Wakulla (Crawfordville), 6 p.m.
Class 3A-District 5 at Higher Seeds
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
1 Santa Fe (Alachua) 16, 4 Eastside 0
2 Palatka 15, 3 North Marion (Citra) 0
Championship – Thursday, May 1
2 Palatka at 1 Santa Fe (Alachua), 7 p.m.
Class 4A-District 3 at Baker County (Glen St. Mary)
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
2 Columbia (Lake City) 21, 3 Riverside (Jacksonville) 0
1 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 15, 4 Ed White (Jacksonville) 0
Championship – Thursday, May 1
2 Columbia (Lake City) at 1 Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 7 p.m.
Class 5A-District 5 at Higher Seeds
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
2 Gainesville 5, 3 Belleview 1
Championship – Thursday, May 1
2 Gainesville at 1 Deltona, 7 p.m.
Class 6A-District 3 at Higher Seeds
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 29
4 Buchholz 6, 1 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) 5
2 Oakleaf (Orange Park) 2, 3 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) 1
Championship – Thursday, May 1
4 Buchholz at 2 Oakleaf (Orange Park), 6:30 p.m.
