OAKLEAF - In a game of titans on the county, Fleming Island and Oakleaf looked to be in pitchers duel with Fleming Island's Mallory Blackwell facing off against Oakleaf's Charlotte Maddox, but the K fest; nine for Maddox, seven for Blackwell got blown up with a seven run fifth inning by Fleming Island off walks and singles as Fleming Island pulled off an 8-1 win over Oakleaf at Oakleaf High School on Thursday, March 27.
Fleming Island, fresh off an 11-4 win over Bishop Kenny and two one run losses to Creekside and Atlantic Coast, came in full of confidence against Maddox and knocked out a 1-0 lead in the first inning off two outfield errors that wound up doubles for Emma Massey and Lauren Sikes.
Fleming Island looked to add to their score in their next at bats with a base loaded scenario off a Emily Williams single and walks to Bailee Wadley and Anisten Kurlander, but the Oakleaf defense held with shortstop Jaydyn Beall snagging a fly ball to end the threat.
After a walk in the third, Blackwell went full blitz with three strikeouts on the Oakleaf batting lineup.
From their both pitchers locked in until the fifth with Massey and Sikes again getting on base an outfield error scoring Massey. Maddox loaded the bases after hitting Lauren Abram with Jolee Rich singling in Sikes, a passed ball scoring Ashlyn Madine and two walks putting Fleming Island up 5-0. Another error proved disastrous as Fleming Island left the inning with an 8-0 lead after Massey singled again.
Oakleaf got on the scoreboard with a walk to Amaya Fisher, a sacrific bunt from Beall and a Garcia single scoring Fisher. A Maddox double put Blackwell on her heels seemingly, but Isabella Grassis whiffed to end the inning.
Fleming Island has plenty of more tests on the way with games upcoming from Bishop Snyder (10-3), Tocoi Creek and University Christian before a key road trip to Ponte Vedra.
Oakleaf will need to regroup quickly with their Kissimmee Klassic opener on April 3 against Bartow High, 12-3, Class 6A ranked fifth and 6A runnerup last year with Keystone Heights and Baldwin on the way after Kissimmee.
In other games, Clay, now 9-4, ranked 16th in 4A, with a double and triple from Brooke Hamilton and eight striketouts from Malia Collins, beat Providence 6-1 and Ridgeview (3-10) fell 12-2 to Baker County (10-2-1). Clay hosts Menendez (6-5) on Friday, March 28.
Middleburg, after a tough 4-2 loss to Creekside, faces off at Baker County (10-2-1, ranked third in 4A) on Friday, March 28 with Keystone Heights heading to Columbia, 10-4-0, ranked sixth 4A) on Friday then to Kissimmee as well for the Kissimmee Klassic.