Santa Fe wins shootout in Lake City

Santa Fe's Breleigh Ford (3) receives a celebreation greeting from her teammates at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against Columbia. Photo by C.J. Gish
Santa Fe's Breleigh Ford (3) receives a celebreation greeting from her teammates at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against Columbia.
Photo by C.J. Gish

It was bombs away in Lake City on Tuesday night in a high school softball showdown of top 10 teams.

Visiting Santa Fe (Alachua) and host Columbia (Lake City) combined for five home runs and 24 runs in a “wild” game that went back and forth.

And although the ball didn’t leave the yard on her fly ball to deep center field, senior J’lyn Guyden’s bases-clearing double in the top of the sixth was the difference in a 13-11 win for the Raiders.

Become A Member

Mainstreet does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible.

“There was a lot of hitting going on, on both sides,” said Santa Fe coach Gene Findley. “It was a good game. We figured it was going to be when we got here. Everyone was amped up for it.”

The two teams also combined for 26 hits.

“It was a wild one, 24 runs scored that’s a wild one,” said first-year Columbia coach Joe Saucier. “Pitching on both sides I don’t think was as crisp as it normally is…we didn’t execute. A lot of errors. Just kept finding our glove and we couldn’t squeeze it there early, so I think that led to a lot of runs.”

Columbia (11-6), which is ranked sixth in the state in Class 4A in the latest FHSAA rankings, seized the momentum early.

Santa Fe's Madisen Crosby with a bunt against Columbia. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s Madisen Crosby with a bunt against Columbia.

In the bottom of the first inning, a walk by senior Sakiya Merriex (1-for-4, DBL, RBI, RS), a bunt single by sophomore Brooklyn White (1-for-3, RS), and an infield hit by junior Luisa Taylor (1-for-4, 2 RS) loaded the bases with nobody out.

That sent designated player Josie Raulerson to the plate, and the sophomore crushed a pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 4-0 lead.

“She’s come a long way,” Saucier said. “When we were younger and we would pitch to Josie, I would throw her nothing but changeups, so that first at-bat I saw the changeup coming out of her hand (Santa Fe starting pitcher Ryleigh Davis) and I looked at Josie and she was timed up. She wasn’t out front on her front foot, and I was like, ‘oh, that’s going a long way,’ yeah she hit that well.”

The Class 3A No. 3 Raiders (13-1) answered with three runs in the top of the third inning.

Senior Madolyn Jablonski’s ground out scored Guyden, who had been hit by a pitch, and senior Breleigh Ford hit a two-run home run to left field to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

However, Raulerson went deep again in the bottom of the third inning.

Following a bunt single by Taylor, Raulerson (2-for-2, 2 HRs, 6 RBI, 3 runs) launched a shot to center field for a two-run home run and a 6-3 lead.

It was her fourth and fifth home runs of the season.

Santa Fe then took its first lead, 8-6, with five runs in the top of the fourth inning.

“Fortunately, this team battles,” Findley said. “We’ve been behind before, and we come back out of the hole. Everybody gets together and if somebody hits the ball somebody scores.”

Santa Fe's Juliana Mott (11) catches an infield pop-up for the third out in the bottom of the first inning. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s Juliana Mott (11) catches an infield pop-up for the third out in the bottom of the first inning.

There were four hits, including a 2-RBI single by senior Madisen Crosby (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI, 3 runs), and three Columbia errors in the inning.

“You can’t give that team extra bases,” Saucier said. “Not only were we giving them on the errors, we were giving them when they would hit the ball to the outfield. We weren’t hitting our cut. We weren’t executing our cuts, and we were giving them an extra 60 feet. They’re too fast to give them an extra 60 feet, but I thought our girls battled.”

Santa Fe added two more runs on a 2-RBI single by sophomore catcher Ainsely Kelsoe (2-for-5, 3 RBI) in the top of the fifth inning for a 10-7 lead, but the host Tigers didn’t give up.

Columbia went long ball again, twice in the bottom of the fifth inning, and took an 11-10 lead.

Raulerson was intentionally walked to begin the inning and senior Kimber Long (2-for-4, 2 RBI, HR) hit a 2-run home run to right center field to get within one at 10-9.

Following a single by senior Alex Collins (1-for-4, 1 run) and a pop-up to first base, sophomore Harleigh Price (1-for-3, HR, 1 run, 2 RBI) belted a two-run home run to left field to put the Tigers in front.

“Harleigh came out of a little bit of a slump there,” Saucier said. “She’s been swinging well at practice getting into her legs. She hadn’t used her legs earlier in the year. Last game she didn’t hit so I made the decision this game to put her back in the lineup and it paid off…she’s D-I talent. She’s going big time.”

It was short-lived and in the top of the sixth inning Santa Fe reclaimed the lead and never trailed again.

Columbia head coach Joe Saucier (left) and his daughter, Santa Fe junior Reagan Saucier. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Columbia head coach Joe Saucier (left) and his daughter, Santa Fe junior Reagan Saucier.

Santa Fe junior Reagan Saucier (1-for-2, 1 run), who was playing against her dad, singled to right field with one out to start the rally.

“It’s very weird, it was really surreal,” Saucier said. “I played with my dad since I was very little, so this was like the first game that we’ve ever been on different teams.”

Saucier went to second base on a single to left field by sophomore JJ Mott (1-for-2, 2 runs).

Leadoff hitter Maren Hornsby (3-for-5, triple, 2 RS) popped up to third in foul territory for the second out, but Crosby had a hit off the glove of Collins at third base to load the bases.

Guyden (2-for-4, 4 RBI, two runs) brought home all three runners with her extra-base hit for a 13-11 lead.

“Being in the number three hole she’s pretty clutch on scoring RBIs,” Findley said. “Her stats show it. Every game in the last couple of weeks she’s got some RBIs.”

Guyden, who had an RBI single in the fourth inning, increased her top five in Florida total to 35 RBI.

Santa Fe, which has won eight in a row, will host Lafayette (Mayo) at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Columbia travels to defending 1A state champion Trenton at 7 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a trip to 1A state runner-up Branford on Tuesday.

Columbia's Josie Raulerson (27) is greeted by her teammates at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. Photo by C.J. Gish 1 (1)
Photo by C.J. Gish Teammates greet Columbia’s Josie Raulerson (27) at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.
Santa Fe's Ryleigh Davis started in the circle against Columbia. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s Ryleigh Davis started in the circle against Columbia.
Santa Fe's J’lyn Guyden (right) put the Raiders on the board with their first run in the top of the third inning against Columbia. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s J’lyn Guyden (right) put the Raiders on the board with their first run in the top of the third inning against Columbia.
Santa Fe's Maren Hornsby dives back safely to third base under the tag of Columbia's Lillyenne Mayhew. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Santa Fe’s Maren Hornsby dives back safely to third base under the tag of Columbia’s Lillyenne Mayhew.
Columbia's Josie Raulerson rounds second base after hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning for a 4-0 lead over Santa Fe. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Columbia’s Josie Raulerson rounds second base after hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning for a 4-0 lead over Santa Fe.
Columbia's Kimber Long hits a ball into foul territory against Santa Fe. Photo by C.J. Gish 1
Photo by C.J. Gish Columbia’s Kimber Long hits a ball into foul territory against Santa Fe.
Columbia's Harleigh Price started in the circle against Santa Fe. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Columbia’s Harleigh Price started in the circle against Santa Fe.

Enjoying our local sports coverage? Get Mike Ridaught's twice weekly sports newsletter in your inbox.
Sports Newsletter Form
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments