ORANGE PARK - A homer by Madden Williams and 10 strikeouts from pitcher Brayden Harris fueled a workmanlike 11-1 five inning win for the St. Johns Country Day School Spartan baseball team over University Christian on Monday in the region 1-1A championship three game series. The win gives the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.
Out in Panama City, at Arnold High School, the Clay High Blue Devils had opportunities with baserunners in place, but the ball was not bouncing to open grass as Arnold won a 2-0 duel in the region 1-4A championship series. Clay remains in Panama City for game two and will need a win in game two to return to Green Cove Springs to determine the region champion.
For St. Johns, with senior T.J. Sunderhaus hitting a single in the fifth inning to tie the school's all time hits record and with Harris throwing hard through most of the game, the focus for Lucas is to just keep the play solid and keep hitting the ball.
"We got some dudes that can hit the ball," said Spartan head coach Tom Lucas. "We executed our game plan pretty good, got good pitching from Brayden and guys stepped up in the batter's box. Now, we just have to relax a bit tonight and do it again tomorrow."
For Lucas, who has the Class 2A title in his pocket from last year, and is the only state champion baseball coach in Clay County, the thought of two in a row has been part of the schematic for the entire season.
"We have talked about the repeat and also the defending of the title through most of the season," said Lucas. "Sometimes I remind them that we own that state title and each game should be played like it's the last one we are going to play."
St. Johns got a first inning loaded bases scenario off a walk to Hunter Rodgers, a single to Preston Cole and Harris getting hit with a pitch to set up back to back run scoring hits; a double from Nick Bowden and a single from George Gilliand to take a quick 4-0 lead.
Cole wound up with a single in the second with two steals to set up an RBI single from Harris to 5-0 with Bowden popping out in foul territory.

In the third, Gilliand and Chandler Dantzler both singled to set up a three run homer from Madden Williams to 7-0 and also chasing University Christian starter Lukas Brougham.
University Christian got their lone run on two singles; the second a long sacrifice fly to Sunderhaus near the centerfield fence. Harris whiffed the final two batters of the inning.
St. Johns erupted in the fourth with bases loaded again off singles to Hunter Rodgers, Cole and a walk to Harris with Bowden ripping a long fly ball to left field for one run and Jonas Wells doubling in two runs to 10-1.
St. Johns loaded the bases in the fifth and Harris singled in the game-ending run.
Clay starting pitcher Rylan McMahan got nine strikeouts to keep Arnold at bay until an error at third base scored a run and back to back singles in the sixth scored the second run.
Clay was limited to three singles; Merrick Rapoza, Peyton McCrae and Easton McMahan, that kept the bases clear with Arnold nailing two double plays on defense.
In other region final play, Trinity Christian Academy won 10-0 in their region 1-2A final game one over Bozeman, South Walton in region 1-3A won 3-0 over Suwannee in that game one, Niceville and Lincoln were set to play May 7 in region 1-5A, Buchholz was set to play Pace in region 1-6A on May 7 and Spruce Creek and Hagerty were set to play May 7 in region 1-7A. Spruce Creek eliminated Creekside 2-0 in that 7A semifinal with games of 8-1 and 6-3.