Winning Wildcats: Baker County defeats Wakulla, seals trip to FHSAA softball semifinals

Baker County can begin packing for the final four.

The bottom of the order sparked the Wildcats at the plate in the late innings to upset host Wakulla 6-2 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-4A softball final on Thursday night.

Baker County advances to a state semifinal Wednesday at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont, against an opponent to be determined once the FHSAA re-seeds the final four based on its ranking system.

Baker County moved in front in the fifth. Kentlee Payne hit a leadoff double from the seventh spot in the order, and a pair of bunts by Keyla Nelson and Mallory Jackson combined with a War Eagles error to bring home two runs.

The same combination ignited a three-run seventh: Payne hit a leadoff single and Chloe Johnson drew a walk, before Nelson's sacrifice bunt and an infield hit by Jackson loaded the bases. Brooklyn Davis brought home one run with a sacrifice fly and Baleigh Shields played two more with a single.

Thursday's game started with a pitchers' duel between Wakulla's Charley Butler and Baker County's Rylee Walker. Both teams scored a run in the fourth inning before Baker County pulled away. Chloe Woods pitched the final three innings for the save.

Baker County is pursuing its first state championship since 2015, when the Wildcats stunned American Heritage in the title game on a seventh-inning game-winning hit by Brandie Callaway.

The Tallahassee Democrat contributed to this story.