The spring season is winding down with a huge week of playoffs and regionals. Here’s what’s going on across a number of sports.
BASEBALL: Regional playoffs went from single elimination to best-of-three series. Harmony (23-6) advanced to semifinals by defeating Lake Nona in two straight (5-2, 133) and will now host Jupiter Wednesday night at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 4 p.m. at Harmony. A Game 3, if necessary, will be played at Jupiter at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Harmony is 15-0 at home this season.
Over the last month the Longhorns repeated as Orange Belt Conference Championships, took home a district championship and won 10 in a row heading into the Jupiter series.
Coach Heath Williams’ team enters the week batting .330 and is also hitting for power with 87 extra base hits, including 21 home runs. They are led by Angel Medina (.393, 6 HR, 30 RBI), Samuel Castillo (.372, 29 RBI, 6 HR, 17 EBH), Jadiel Perez (.312, 4 HR) and Clayton Williams (.329, 29 RBI).
But what really has given Harmony an edge this season – and could be especially important in this new series format – is pitching depth. Ismael Rivera has been used as a starter, long reliever, middle reliever and closer and excelled in all four roles – going 5-1 with three saves, an 1.58 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 43 innings. Sophomore Trevin Bean (5-2, 2.50 ERA) has been the team’s No. 1 starter, freshman Raul Romay (3-0, 2.38) and Westin Thompson (2-1, 3.29 ERA) add valuable depth and senior lefty Alexavier Lebron (3-0, 4.25 ERA) has filled the role of a “big-game” pitcher in the past.
“For as much as our team has accomplished this year, I still believe we have not reached our potential,” Williams said. “Obviously as you move on in the playoffs, the competition just keeps getting tougher. I told our guys after the Lake Nona series that it we are now going to have to play some ‘big boy’ baseball. Jupiter is an extremely talented team and they will come into this series with some the added incentive of revenge.”
On its way to a regional final last year, the Longhorns traveled to Jupiter and beat the highlyfavored Warriors, 10-6.
“We could really use the fan support with big crowds this week,” Williams added. “We’ve had a good season overall, but we just seem to be able take it up a notch in our home ball park.”
TRACK AND FIELD: After a week off, 109 qualified county athletes will take the final step this week as they continue their chase to make the state championship meet. Athletes from Osceola, St. Cloud, Harmony, Tohopekaliga, Celebration and Poinciana will all be competing at the Class 4A, Region 2 Meet at George Jenkins High in Lakeland on Saturday.
Gateway, whose boys team won a district title last week, and Liberty will also compete Saturday at the Class 3A, Region 2 Championship at Embry Riddle University on Saturday.
To automatically advance to the FHSAA State Championships the following week at North Florida University, athletes must finish in the top two at regionals. Multiple “at-large” spots are also available, with the number of those being based on the event.
Osceola’s strongest candidates to advance to the state championship include Poinciana distance runner Levi Lee and Gateway’s Jose Calderon. Lee is a threat in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs; while Calderon reached the podium last year in the 400 and also qualified for regionals in the 200. Gateway coach Tane Crossley believes that in addition to Calderon, Maxwell Garcon (triple jump), Joshua Fuller (shot put), Joseph Ramirez (long jump) and Dalton Gould (pole vault) all have a shot to reach states.
Other athletes looking to advance to the state championship include Poinciana’s Tyler Jones (long and triple jump), St. Cloud’s Mason Shafer (top regional seed in pole vault), Jonathan Rodriguez (high jump), and Adon Elienist (400). Harmony’s Ivan Ramos should advance in the javelin. Osceola’s Jordan Mundle, who has been hampered with a hamstring injury, will have a chance to advance in the triple jump.
On the girls’ side the strongest contenders to qualify include Osceola’s Korbyn Jones and Cheyenne Price (triple jump), Aaliyah Strickland (long jump). Tohopekaliga high jumper Sanaa Charles looks to advance to states for a second straight year; while St. Cloud has hopefuls in Kyla Perez (800), Lailana Decker (3,200) and Priscilla Rodriguez (400 hurdles).
SOFTBALL: St. Cloud hosts Harmony in the District 7A-6 championship on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. In Tuesday's semifinals, St. Cloud defeated Poinciana, 18-2, and Harmony made quick work of Celebration, 15-0.
In the 6A-7 tournament, Osceola need a win over Melbourne on Wednesday to play host to Friday’s final – most likely against top-seed Viera (15-6).
The regional playoffs begin May 8.
FLAG FOOTBALL: It was another fine season for the Harmony Longhorns (14-5), but it came to the end of the line Monday at Wellington (15-1), the No. 1 ranked team in Florida in the FHSAA’s rankings.
The Longhorns ran with the Wolverines, but couldn’t overcome a 19-14 fourth quarter deficit, falling 25-20. Harmony found itself in a 13-0 hole early after Wellington ran one offensive play.
"It was a tough ending to the season. Experience defined the moment," HHS Coach Paul Strauch said. "They've got good coaches and good athletes."
The Longhorns clawed back to take a 14-13 lead, but Wellington scored on back-to-back drives to take a 25-14 lead with three minutes left in the game. Harmony gave itself a chance to win when Martha Edwards connected with Jada Bloodworth on her second TD catch of the game to get within a score. But Harmony couldn't connect on a "onside play", a 4th-and-20, to keep the game and the season going.
"Smalls (Edwards), Kinzie James, the seniors, all of us, were emotional after it ended," Strauch said. "But we have freshmen and sophomores who played in our defense after we changed the scheme midway through the year."
The Wolverines face No. 2 regional seed Fort Pierce Central in Thursday’s regional final.
