The First Academy moved one step closer to claiming its first Florida High School Athletic Association baseball state championship following a close Class 3A semifinal win Monday morning.
The Royals (29-1) relied on a solid pitching performance by junior Isaac Sewell and big plays in the field late in the game during a 2-1 win vs. Jacksonville Bolles (25-5), which was ranked No. 1 in 3A by MaxPreps.
No. 3 TFA plays No. 7 Miami Westminister Christian (23-7) for the championship Tuesday at 4 p.m. at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers. First Academy enters the state final with a 20-game win streak. Westminister won 3-0 over No. 15 Fort Pierce John Carroll Catholic (18-11) in the other semifinal.
Admission to FHSAA baseball tournament games is $9 per day in advance and $12 on day of event exclusively via the GoFan app. Parking is $10. The game will be streamed online for a fee by the NFHS Network.
Sewell struck out seven batters while allowing five hits and three walks in 91 pitches in a complete game effort.
The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a 2-RBI single to left field by junior Greg Pettay, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Senior Khadin Bastian went 2-for-2 and recorded one of the team’s five stolen bases.
TFA managed six hits against Bolles ace Jackson Baumeister, who finished with 10 strikeouts, three hit batters and one walk.
The Bulldogs appeared in position to rally in the top of the fourth inning but a would-be single to load the bases resulted in the final out under unusual circumstances. Freshman Aidan Lynch was unable to run to first base after connecting for a hit to left field that advanced runners to second and third.
Lynch took a few steps out of the batter’s box before falling to the dirt with what appeared to be a right hip injury. He left the game and did not return.
Bolles plated its only run in the sixth on a hit to right field by Jaden Flowers. First Academy escaped the rest of the inning unscathed after getting three outs over the next two at-bats.
Sophomore second baseman Matthew Perez made a leaping grab to steal a base hit before throwing to first baseman Trent Kelly, who tagged out Flowers for a double play as he attempted to slide back into the bag. Kelly then stretched his legs while making a grab for the final out after Perez reached to his right side and scooped a grounder in stride before turning to make the throw.
TFA last played in an FHSAA state tournament game in 1997 when it lost in the Class A semifinals.
Scott Grove, in his eighth season as head coach with the Royals, led Colonial to a state runner-up finish in 2000 and Timber Creek to the state semifinals in 2010 and 2012. TFA finished regional runners-up under Grove in 2017 and 2019.
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
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