MIDDLEBURG – A third inning home run by Middleburg High’s Collin Henderson and an RBI double from Blaine Bright was enough to fuel a 2-1 win for the Broncos over the visiting Fleming Island High Golden Eagles in a Clay County thriller Thursday night at Middleburg High School.

Middleburg, 4-2 now under first-year head coach Daniel Pearce, showed of some defensive spunk behind third baseman Justin Mosley and pitcher Corey Strange.

Strange, who opened for the Broncos, shut down a productive hitting inning for Fleming Island (2-3) in the fourth with the Golden Eagles batting seven players, but only scoring one run.

A sharp single over second base from Austin Morton was followed by a walk and a fielder’s choice grounder from Chris Chafton that tied the game at 1-1. Collier Summers singled before Strange walked Tyler Hudson and Drew Wilkerson to load the bases, but Strange got a flyout to Morton to thwart the threat.

Middleburg went right to work to up the ante in the fourth with a walk to Jack Kelley from Fleming Island pitcher Cory Solomon was followed by a strikeout to Strange. With Kelley reaching third base on steals, Bright blasted a long double to the right field wall to score Kelley and put Middleburg up 2-1. Henderson struck out to end the inning.

In the fifth, a deep grounder to Middleburg shortstop Michael Thompson was answered wtih Thompson gunning down Billy Schopp at first in a very close play that went to the Broncos’ defense. Fleming Island’s final attempt to gain the lead came in the sixth inning with Calab Lanoux walking and Chafton getting a nifty grounder that pinch baserunner Tyler Less broke up at second to squash a double play attempt that was followed by a smooth bunt from Summers to apparently load the bases until Summers was tagged out turning into the infield after passing first base. Relief pitcher Sam Higginbotham and the Broncos’ defense took some energy from the opportunistic first out to get a strikeout and a long throw from Mosley at third on a strong corner hit by Wilkerson. Pearce has wins over Bradford (9-2), Palatka (4-1) and Fleming Island on his list with a 10-0 recent loss to Oakleaf a recent blemish. Middleburg travels to Ridgeview on Tues., March 7. leming Island has wins over Bartram Trail (7-3), Yulee (4-3) with losses to Yulee (8-1), Middleburg (2-1) and Fletcher (1-0). Fletcher was Fleming Island’s first district loss. Fleming Island has Lee at 4 p.m. at Fleming Island High School before traveling to Clay High on March 10.

District 3-7A

Middleburg (4-2)

Gainesville (3-2)

Columbia (2-4)

Ocala Vanguard (1-3)

District 2-8A

Fletcher (4-2, 1-0)

Oakleaf (6-0, 1-0)

Atlantic Coast (4-0, 1-0)

Fleming Island (2-3, 0-1)

First Coast (0-1, 0-1)

Lee (0-3, 0-2)