Tiger Sharks sweep district, face Seahawks in new regional series
Take a breath and take a week off, because on Monday evening, April 28 on the Port St. Joe High School baseball diamond will begin the opening round of a newly-introduced best two-out-of-three series to decide who will advance to the regional title game, and a shot at the state title, in the Rural state championships.
And who better to square off than arch-rivals Port St. Joe (15-10) and Franklin County (16-8) in this new twist on the regional playoffs?
The Tiger Sharks, the district’s top seed, swept the district championship series, by defeating fifth-seeded Liberty County (5-13) 8-1 on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs had advanced into that district final by shutting out fourth-seeded Altha (13-6) 12-0 the night before.
Port St. Joe then went on to defeat third-seeded Blountstown (10-16) 4-3 Thursday night.
The Tigers had advanced to the district championship game by virtue of a 7-4 downing of second-seeded Franklin County Tuesday night.
The semifinal loss to Blountstown might have spelled the end of the Seahawks’ post-season run, but by virtue of their Florida High School Athletic Association ranking, based on a formula that takes into consideration win-loss record and strength of schedule, Franklin County will advance to the regionals.
“I was kind of on the edge wondering if we were going to make it or not,” said Seahawks Coach Brock Johnson. “I’m super excited, and they’re excited that they’re in. We’re very grateful and happy we get a chance to continue playing.
“Most baseball coaches are pretty excited about the new format,” he said. “Now the team that advances, they’re the most complete team. It’s more true baseball.”
With a pair of regular season losses against the Tiger Sharks, and a younger, less experienced team than Port St Joe will field, Johnson knows the Seahawks have their work cut out for them to win a pair in Gulf County.
“Ashley Summerlin is a good coach, he’s always done a great job with his team,” Johnson said. “Their boys seem to play well together.”
“We faced them twice already, and we’ll be prepared for them,” Johnson said. “I think we’ll be OK. I think it’s going to be a great series.”
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.