Florida baseball state semifinals/finals recap: Chipley wins Class 1A state championship

Chipley wins its first-ever state championship in program history

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) began hosting the state baseball championships down at Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, with Thursday being Day No. 2 of state semifinals and Class 1A state title game. 

Games that took place on Thursday was the Class 1A state championship between Chipley and Lafayette, then the Class 2A state semifinals with Lakeland Christian-Neumann and St. Johns Country Day-Westminster Academy. Read more below of our recaps on the state championships/semifinals that took place. 

Class 1A state championship: Chipley 10, Lafayette 1 

The Chipley Tigers celebrated winning the program’s first-ever state championship in school history as Chipley took advantage of a huge third inning to defeat Lafayette. 

After finishing 17-11 a season ago, Chipley made a huge turnaround this spring. The Tigers compiled eight hits in route to scoring 10 runs as they chased off Hyatt Richardson. On Chipley’s side of things, pitching was strong behind senior hurler Bryson Howard. 

Howard went the distance, striking out six batters and allowing one run on six hits. Leading the way at the plate was first baseman Cade Culbreth, who drove in three runs on two hits. 

Class 2A state semifinal: St. Johns Country Day 8, Westminster Academy 3 

St. Johns Country Day is off to the Class 2A state championship after behind a strong first inning and pitching performance from Jacob Thomas. 

Westminster Academy scored a run in the top of the first inning, but St. Johns Country Day answered back in the bottom of the frame. The Spartans got plenty of power at the plate from third baseman Seth Alford, who notched three hits and three RBI’s. 

Thomas’ performance on the mound helped keep Westminster at bay the rest of the day as the pitcher went four innings, as he allowed just one earned run and seven hits spread over his outing. 

Class 2A state semifinal: Lakeland Christian 3, Neumann 0 

The Vikings booked their ticket to the Class 2A state championship game via a pitching gem from senior pitcher Daniel Hartley. 

Hartley pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits, four walks, striking out four and no runs to lead Lakeland Christian past Neumann of Naples. Lakeland Christian notched eight hits on the day, with one coming in the first inning and the other two in the sixth. 

The Vikings face off against the Spartans tomorrow morning for the Class 2A state championship at 11 a.m. Today’s slate of games on tap are down below. 

Friday’s state semifinals 

3A: Clearwater Calvary Christian vs. Providence School, 10 a.m. 

3A: Gulliver Prep vs. North Broward Prep, 1 p.m.  

4A: Jefferson vs. Bishop Kenny, 4 p.m.

4A: Sunset vs. North Marion, 7 p.m.  

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.