GREEN COVE SPRINGS - A three run homer from KK Rouw, who also bashed a triple, started the fireworks for a seven run sixth inning in Clay High's 10-2 win over Menendez on Friday.
Clay, now 10-4, was ranked 16th in 4A, also got a big night with a double and triple from Brooke Hamilton and eight striketouts from Malia Collins to beat Providence 6-1 earlier in the week.
"They are starting to mesh well," said Clay coach Matt Lewis, who prior to the season seemed excited to be coaching a fresh new group of young faces this season. "It's a good mix of experience and newbies and they push each other in practice. It's fun to watch and be a part of."
In Friday's home game against Menendez, the Blue Devils won their third game in a row with a decisive seven run sixth inning to beat Menendez 10-2 at Clay High School.
"We are ranked fifth in the region, they are ranked sixth," said Lewis. "This is a good game as some tough ones are coming, then districts."
Rouw's homer came with two runners on base; Hailey Hackett, who walked, and Yarianis Gonzalez, who was hit by a pitch, to push the score to 6-2.
In the same inning, after a flurry of hits from Amiah Carruba and Brooke Hamilton, plus a walk to Hailie Miera, Bailie Jackson and Leann Ellis both doubled home four more runs for the rout.
Clay next travels to their five next games; Mandarin, Ridgeview, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine and Creekside.
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 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 A Fisher, a sacrific bunt from Beall and a Garcia single scoring Fisher. A Maddox double put Blackwell on her heels seemingly, but 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.
Middleburg, after a tough 4-2 loss to Creekside, faced off at Baker County (10-2-1, ranked third in 4A) on Friday, March 28 and came home with a 2-0 loss hampered by a 15 strikeout performance from Baker County pitcher Grace Masterson. Masterson gave up just three hits to the Broncos. Middleburg pitcher Lily Bennett had six strikeouts with a run scoring triple in the sixth and a run scored off a flyball in the fourth. Mika Wesley got a bunt single and Chloe Ballinger hit a double with Bennett adding a single for the Bronco bats.
Keystone Heights (4-7) fell 5-4 on a walk off single to Columbia, 10-4-0, ranked sixth 4A on Friday then heads to Kissimmee as well for the Kissimmee Klassic.