The South Walton Seahawks are heading back to the state championship game for the third consecutive year after a 6-2 win over Miami Springs in Wednesday’s Class 3A state semifinal, avenging last year’s title game loss to the Golden Hawks.
- And while Miami Springs hung around, South Walton jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back.
The rally began in the second inning when Declan Fowler drew a walk and Carter Hawk followed with a single. Hudson Quinn then singled to score Fowler, and Coleman Borthwick was intentionally walked. Nathan Whitney delivered the big blow with a two-run single that scored Hawk and Lyndan Flanary, who was courtesy running for Quinn.
South Walton padded the lead in the third when Parker Granse singled and Fowler laid down a bunt to bring Granse home, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
Things tightened in the fifth, though.
Miami Springs’ Taylor Ancheta singled, Esaul Pena followed with a single and Eisler Piloto drove in Ancheta with a base hit to make it 5-1 — just the third earned run Borthwick has allowed all year. Borthwick responded by retiring the next three batters to end the inning.
By the sixth, Borthwick had eclipsed 100 pitches and was removed from the mound in what will be the final time he takes the hill for South Walton. Griffin Loy entered in relief but hit Yordan Torres and Matthew Munoz with pitches, prompting a quick change to Granse on the mound. Ancheta’s sacrifice groundout scored Torres to cut the lead to 5-2, but Granse got out of the inning with the lead intact.
South Walton’s bats answered immediately. Fowler singled, Jace Cunningham doubled to score Fowler and Borthwick singled to drive in Cunningham, pushing the lead to 7-2.
Granse then closed out the final three outs to send South Walton back to the state title game.
Despite collecting nine hits to South Walton’s seven, Miami Springs couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most. The Golden Hawks stranded 12 baserunners on the night.
South Walton will face North Broward Prep in the Class 3A state championship game at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Thursday. North Broward Prep advanced with a 4-0 win over South Sumter in the other semifinal Wednesday night.
A Seahawks victory would be the first state title in program history and just the second team state championship in South Walton school history. The only other came when the girls basketball team captured the 2012-13 1A state title under legendary head coach Kevin Craig.
It would also mark the first time a school from the area has won a state title in baseball — and the fourth team state championship for area schools this school year, following Rocky Bayou football’s SSAA 2A state title in November, Fort Walton Beach Cheer’s 1A Game Day state title in January and Niceville boys track and field’s state title last week.
