OAKLEAF – A defensive battle became a late-inning surge as Oakleaf High put their unbeaten streak on the line against a feisty Clay High squad on Tues., March 7.

In the end, it was a leadoff double by Oakleaf’s Ty Andrew that opened the floodgates of baserunners for the Knights (8-0) en route to a 4-1 non-district win.

Oakleaf continued its hot season start with a 10-5 district win over Fletcher on March 9. The Knights will travel to district 2-8A challenger Atlantic Coast, also unbeaten at 6-0, on March 14. Clay falls to 1-6 with losses to three Georgia schools, 7A-Creekside and 4A-Trinity Christian. Clay finished the week with a loss to Baker County, but a win over Fleming Island, 7-3, on Fri., March 10.

Atlantic Coast has wins over Episcopal 2-0, Rockledge 10-9, Viera 4-2 and, locally Lee, 13-3, and First Coast, 9-2. Atlantic Coast beat Oakleaf 10-0 in the region 1-8A championship last year.

Against Clay, with neither team venturing past second base in the first four innings as pitchers Connor Solomon for Clay and Blaine Jones for Oakleaf kept the opposing bats at bay, the fifth inning proved fatal for the Blue Devils.

Andrews opened with a double to left field followed by a bunt single by Keegan Barrs to set up two threats to Solomon. Indecisive defense on a bunt by Zach Coon put Barrs at second with Andrews getting thrown out at third off Barrs bunt. A

single from catcher Vinny Caldas to left field scored the first run of the game with Barrs sprinting home. A steal attempt by Caldas ending the inning.

Clay attempted to respond with Oakleaf putting pitcher Noah Detrick on the mound and the Clay offense opened the inning with back to back singles from Jacob Gann and Cole Escher. A strikeout to Josh Lemen quelled the Blue Devil fans, but Oakleaf coach Chris Lannom took the risk and intentionally walked Tyler Spence to set the defense for a quick read and a long fly by Solomon to center field proved the strategy faulty. Austin Burke flied out to stop the threat at just one run and a 1-1 score.

In the sixth, Oakleaf again opened with a double with Monte Stevens smashing a ball past third base. Detrick would single past the shortstop hole to put two runners on with Stevens stealing third.

Solomon would be called for a balk to send Stevens home and move Detrick to second to score the game 2-1.

A three ball/two strike pitch to Tristan Adams whistled to Escher at second base and his throw home was in the dirt as Detrick slid behind Clay catcher Kevin Jackson to score a run. Justin Wager continued the pile on for a 4-1 lead with a double to left field scoring the final run of the day.

Against Fletcher, the Knights built a 9-1 fourth inning lead, but allowed four runs in the seventh to put a scare into the Oakleaf dugout.

Oakleaf had big days in the batter’s box from Ty Andrews who bashed three hits; one a double, with three runs batted in and Justin Wager who had one hit for two RBIs. Tristan Adams, Chris Mauloni, Vinny Caldas and Bruce Hube all hit for RBIs.