The top-seeded Trenton Tigers went to the bottom of the fifth inning of their Rural-District 7 championship game on Thursday night, facing a three-run deficit.

The host Tigers didn’t panic. They tied third-seed Chiefland with three runs in the fifth, then scratched across a run in the sixth inning to rally for a 4-3 win and a district championship.

Trenton (20-4) faced a much tougher challenge from Chiefland this time than in its regular-season meeting on March 24, where the Tigers rolled to a 9-1 win.

“It was a tough game and Chiefland put up a great fight,” Trenton coach Chris Marlo said. “Our boys didn’t buckle under pressure, and they had pressure on them all night. Both teams played great and hats off to them.”

The first four innings were pretty quiet, as Chiefland senior starter Hunter Boyd and Trenton sophomore starter Mason VunCannon matched zeroes from the mound.

Chiefland (13-10) finally broke through in the top of the fifth. Jolen Doty and Osten Jones both bunted for hits, and VunCannon committed a throwing error to first to put runners at second and third. After walking the bases loaded, VunCannon was replaced by sophomore Brant Bivens.

Chiefland leadoff hitter Brice Thomas drove in two runs with a single to right, and Thomas later scored to make it 3-0 after an error by Trenton shortstop Jordan Marlo.

The Chiefland lead was short-lived, as Trenton answered back in the bottom of the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Marlo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left. Then, with two outs, Ty Moses delivered a big two-run single to center to tie the game 3-3.

“This team is a special group, and they battle and fight,” Marlo said. “In these district and regional games, anything can happen. You can throw the records out.”

Trenton scratched across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. Isaac Johnson was hit by a pitch with one out, and a Chiefland error and two walks eventually led to Johnson scoring on a wild pitch with two outs.

Bivens picked up the win in relief and was named the Sonic Player of the Game. Chiefland reliever Garret Byrd took the loss.

“Those guys (VunCannon and Bivens) have been great all year,” Marlo said. “They are only sophomores and are pitching like seasoned veterans. They do a great job of not walking hitters and attacking hitters and putting us in a great position.”

Both teams will await their matchups in the Rural regional playoffs, which the FHSAA will announce on Friday afternoon.

Thursday, April 17

FHSAA Baseball District Tournament championship scores

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold)

Class Rural-District 6 at Union County (Lake Butler)

1 Lafayette (Mayo) 4, 3 Branford 1

Class Rural-District 7 at Trenton

1 Trenton 4, 3 Chiefland 3

Class 1A-District 5 at Oak Hall

1 St. Francis Catholic Academy 3, 2 Oak Hall 2

Class 2A-District 4 at Keystone Heights

1 Keystone Heights 12, 3 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 5

Class 3A-District 3 at Suwannee (Live Oak)

1 Suwannee (Live Oak) 10, 3 Paxon (Jacksonville) 0 (5)

Class 3A-District 5 at Santa Fe (Alachua)

2 Palatka 9, 1 Santa Fe (Alachua) 4 (8)

Class 5A-District 3 at Columbia (Lake City)

1 Columbia (Lake City) 8, 2 Ridgeview (Orange Park) 2

Class 6A-District 2 at Buchholz

1 Buchholz 12, 2 Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) 2 (6)