MIDDLEBURG - Fleming Island High softball opened in thunderous fashion in their district 3-5A championship game against Middleburg High with a three run homer from Ashlyn Madine with Jolee Rich adding one more with an RBI single to put the Golden Eagles up 4-0 very abruptly.
"I think we had a little bit of nervous jitters coming in because they have had a pretty good season," said Middleburg coach Ashley Houston. "We had a lot of new players this season this was a pretty big game not just because of the district title on the line, but it was a county rivalry."
Middleburg, though, answered quickly with two runs in their initial at bats off an equally thunderous triple from Mallory Ficklin that was followed by an RBI double from Cloey Ballinger to put the score at 4-1 that that was followed by an RBI double from Izzy Pifer to score the game 4-2 in what appeared to be an upcoming slugfest for a championship game.
Late inning homers by Madisyn Strickland and Kerra Clarida were the final blows for the Broncos who finished off with a 5-4 win for the District 3-5A championship.
"We came out hot and put runs on the board, but didn't finish," said Fleming Island coach Jennifer Bucklew. "In the later innings, we were still hitting the ball, but they were making good defensive plays on us. We had our opportunities."
Fleming Island kept the pace hot with Bailee Wadley socking her own triple and chasing Middleburg starting pitcher Lily Bennett to put Ballinger, a sophomore, on the mound.
"When I came in at 4-2 and everyone was hitting the ball, I was a little nervous, but knew I had to lock it down," said Ballinger. "My teammates were relying on me to slow things down."
Ballinger ended the inning with outfielder Caylee Johnson winging a nifty snag on a dangerous fly ball by Madine again.
From there, the game slowed to become a pitcher's duel with Ballinger and Fleming Island starter Mallory Blackwell (7Ks) until Fleming Island threatened in the fourth with a single from Anisten Kurlander and a walk to Emma Massey setting up Fleming Island for another run strike, but Middleburg catcher Madi Strickland got a laser throw from Johnson from left field to tag out Kurlander at home plate.
"We were hitting the ball on them, but not scoring the runs," said Kurlander.
With the Bronco dugout fused with energy from Strickland's defensive play, Strickland went big a second time with a home run to start the fifth inning to put the game at 4-3.
"These girls work so hard to be ready to play every inning," said Houston. "With Madi's play at the plate getting us revved up again, then hitting the homer was big."
Middleburg's next batter, Mika Wesley, a region 100 meter trackster, sliced a hard grounder that got her to second base in a flash before Kerra Clarida threw down a monster homer over the left field fence to put Middleburg up 5-4.
"I like to think it's not just me carrying the team, but that we all have to take the opportunities when they come up in the big games, " said Clarida, who sports a team-leading .446 batting average with six homers and 31 runs batted in. "This team is special and we have responded to most of the challenges of the season."
Fleming Island coach Baire Bucklew noted that the two teams could meet in the region playoffs.
"We were number five in the region coming in," said Bucklew. "We knew we were the underdog and had to put pressure on them. We just fell short."

Region 1-5A
(Class 5A rankings)

1. Matanzas 19-1
2. Niceville 16-6
3. Middleburg 16-8
8. Chiles 18-3
12. Fleming Island 14-6
14. Milton 13-11
16. Ponte Vedra 13-9
18. Gulf Breeze 12-13
Top Eight advance to regions

24. Beachside 14-8
30. Lincoln 7-14
31. Ridgeview 9-14
32. Leon 15-9
45. Mosley 6-11
53.Orange Park 4-18
62. Englewood 2-10