The Buchholz baseball team is looking for some short-term revenge and now has a chance to do some long-term revenge.
It's no secret that the first match of the Regional 1-6A Final Series (when the Bobcats were hosting Paces) wasn't Buchholz's best outing. The Patriots lost 11-4 – the Bobcats’ first loss since April 5 and their only loss – Buchholz soon had to shift the focus to “one game at a time.”
The series has not been lost yet. And the bobcats have a chance to tie things up. In the end, they scored 11-2 in Buchholz.
The Bobcats had a 5-4 courage to beat the Patriots in the regional finals of Pace, thanks to a quick hit from Blake Brewer at the top of the eighth place, which led to a 5-4 victory, followed by some great pitches from Aidan Kastensmidt.
“We were in one game at a time. We said, ‘Don’t let Wednesday take us to Thursday.’ We have to win Thursday once we win the program, we have to focus. “Our players, in this mobile age, you’ve been looking at things that were in the past and they’ve done a great job of focusing.” ”
After a run in the first two innings, Buchholz sent two runners through the bottom of the plate at Kai So. The lead didn't last long.
"Kai is a huge leader behind the plate after his senior year. He's a really good high school batsman - one of the best people I've ever met and around," Brooks said. "His approach is really professional. Tonight, he pulled some balls out of the yard. He showed up tonight, and it was big."
So, in the sixth inning, his second game beat his second home run just to get the game to end, again, Glenn Brooks’ home run, which eventually forced the extra situation.
Kastensmidt enjoyed the game for Wyatt Clarke after the next speed batsman recorded an infield single. Kastensmidt quickly forced two roots to end the regulations.
After two hits with So, JJ Gardner started the game on the mound, the two hitters hit a ball in the gap, hitting the center right in the gap, scoring So, who ran from second place.
Kastsensmidt hit the third inning on the eighth top on the plate. But the work still has to be done on the mound.
He forced two seats in the first two batting matches before facing all after a couple fouled. Then there is the Gaming World Stadium, which is a swing strikeout.
Buchholz returns his ticket to Fort Myers, a back-to-back season.
"Aidan also had something to prove from Wednesday, too. Very good, he ended up on the mound. JJ started doing well and Wyatt gave us three good innings," said Ron Brooks. "I'm really proud of him by having Aidan shut it down."
Buchholz (32-2) returned to a quarter of the Class 6A final and is now looking for long-term revenge after falling in Durway in the state championship game last season.
Some people think this is a place that may not be possible after graduating with a lot of talent in 2024.
"In the fall, I tell some people that I'm very excited about the depth of our plan. On the offense, I think we'll be sneaking well. Our approach is really good in the fall. Our arms, I feel like we're in good shape," said Ron Brooks. "We have a bunch of guys who can compete and throw strikes. Everyone thinks we're losing a lot. But, as a coach, I know we're back and I'm excited about it."
With FHSAA offering three best series for the regional championships in baseball, it was the first time that both Pace and Buchholz experienced a tandem of Game 3.
Pace quickly went through Oviedo and Tocoi Creek for work, while Buchholz rolled on the First Coast and won two wins against Tate. The May 10 game also marks the first time Buchholz has been on the road since April 7 in Forest.
Buchholz was able to stand out in Game 1 of the series. With the starter who was able to use the mound time that didn’t see in the first two games, and some action reliefers, it seems Buchholz is the so-called prototype that the FHSAA is considering when it comes to the new policy.
But even then, Ron Brooks still believes that if it weren't for the Bobcat built for the series, it was "built" for the atmosphere of speed and survived or lost numerous scenes.
"Whatever the FHSAA tells us to do, we do it. Except for two or three games, it turned into a single game series. We built it for that," Ron Brooks said. "It's a tough atmosphere as we all know. (PACE) did a great job in the stands and supported the program. I'm proud of how we handle the environment. (pace) (pace) threw some fists, we threw some fists, but luckily, in the end, we were the guys standing."
Since the May 10 game was supposed to be in the afternoon, the CT started at 2pm and the game was pushed back to 6pm to allow Pace's field to be shaped after some storm hits the area.
All of this contributed.
"Last year, in the regional championship, we had a few games. In the state, we were postponed. We were used to it," Ron Brooks said. "But it's cool that we use this time as a family to grow up. It's our family time on the bus and hanging out today. I think it really helps our culture."
Ben Grieco is a sports journalist at Pensacola News-Journal.