The Wildcat baseball team over the weekend bounced back from a blistering loss on March 25 to Clay County, winning the Fernandina Beach Diamond Classic by sweeping three games.

The win brings the Cats’ record to 16-2 overall.

It was a relief for the Cats after a rough loss at home to the Blue Devils. BCHS was knocked dizzy by a quick seven runs in the first inning and never recovered as Clay racked up an 18-8 win.

BCHS tried to keep it close early and closed the gap to 7-4. But Clay scored five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to seal the victory, only the second loss of the season for Fred Matricardi’s Cats.   

At Fernandina, Ethan Wilkerson was MVP of the tournament and hit .500 through three games.

The Cats got things started with a 4-0 romp over Tatnell Square Academy of Macon, GA. The game was scoreless through seven innings. Jared Crews had a strong outing on the mound, throwing 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.

Jacob Milton gets a hit during the Wildcats win over Fernandina at Suns stadium in Jacksonville.

The Baker High varsity baseball team went 2-0 the past week to improve to 13-1, and locked up the number one seed in the district tournament in the process.

On March 19 the Wildcats beat the visiting Fernandina Beach Pirates 2-1. Freshmen Dylan Hall picked up the win, throwing 3.2 innings and giving up only one run. Jacob Milton pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief and Hunter Hanks picked up the save with a scoreless seventh inning.

Jared Crews led the offense with a pair of hits and Ethan Wilkerson added an RBI double.

“We didn’t swing the bats very well that night; maybe we were looking ahead to Friday’s game,” said Coach Fred Matricardi.

On March 22 the Cats hosted Bishop Kenny to determine the number one seed in the district tournament and handled the Crusaders 8-2 in what Matricardi called “our best game of the season.”

Hunter Hanks steals third.

The Wildcat varsity baseball team is sizzling hot at 11-1 this season, and went 3-0 this past week with wins over a very good Episcopal squad, Forrest and Palatka.

The win over the Episcopal Eagles on March 11 at the home field was a touch and go affair. The game bounced back and forth as BCHS came from three runs back to defeat the Rams 8-7 in nine innings.

Jacob Milton started on the mound and Justin Guillory picked up the win in relief, throwing two scoreless innings.

“I’m very proud of Justin because he hasn’t pitched in over a year coming off an arm injury,” said Coach Fred Matricardi. “He has stayed positive and continued to work hard.”

The Cats were down 3-0 in the fourth and scored five runs to take the lead. Jacob Milton doubled, Hunter Hanks singled to bring Milton in, and Ethan Wilkerson followed up with a two-run homer to tie the game. The Cats took the lead when Mikal Flores doubled and Dylan Hall got a single that brought Flores across the plate. Hunter Bell scored on a squeeze play to put BCHS up 5-3.

Episcopal regained the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh. The Cats tied the game when Grant Gregory reached on a error. Brandon Miller singled, Jacob Milton grounded out, with two outs and runners on second and third. Hunter Hanks had a great at bat and reached on a error to score Miller and Milton.

The BCHS boys’ tennis team continues to dominate opponents winning a pair of matches this past week to stay undefeated.

The boys lineup defeated Hilliard on March 7 in convincing fashion with a 7-0 margin. Jared Stafford won the No. 1 singles match 8-1 and Brock Dukeman had an 8-3 win in No. 2 singles.

Tyler Curry won 9-8 with a 10-4 tie-break victory and Evan Barrett had an 8-6 win. Logan Campbell won 8-0.

The doubles team of Stafford and Dukeman were victorious 8-2 while Curry and Barrett won 8-4.

The girls squad continues to improve despite losses against Hilliard and Union County.

The girls fell 2-5 to Hilliard with NO. 1 singles player Kaylann Stafford winning 8-4 and the doubles team of Stafford and Andrea Clark winning 8-6. Danielle Mathis, Toree Jones, Victoria Sapp and the doubles team of Mathis and Jones fell to the Lady Flashes.

The boys notched another victory on March 11 in a 6-1 home match over Union County.

Stafford, Barrett, Dukeman and Curry all won their singles matches. Doubles teams Stafford and Barrett, and Dukeman and Curry posted wins as well.

Campbell fell in singles play.