Jay baseball claims first state championship since 1970, beating Bozeman | AREA ROUNDUP

Santa Rosa County is one state champion richer after the Jay baseball team claimed the Class 1A crown in Fort Myers on Thursday over Bozeman.

Elsewhere, in Jacksonville, it was Class 2A's turn for the state track and field championship meet.

Here's a roundup of area contests that happened on Thursday, May 16.

See your team's scores or stats missing? Be sure to update MaxPreps regularly, or report scores to sports reporter Ben Grieco at bgrieco@gannett.com. This will be updated as more results are posted.

Baseball

Jay 6, Bozeman 3: For the first time since 1970, the Royals are state champs.

Jay topped Bozeman (Panama City) in the Class 1A state championship game in Fort Myers to seal the deal, adding some insurance runs and getting out of a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh. Then all chaos broke loose as players swarmed and dogpiled in front of the mound.

Bozeman initially went up 2-0 after the first inning, but after that, for the most part, it was all Jay. The Royals plated a run in the fourth inning followed by a decisive three-run fifth frame to take the lead.

With another run in the fifth and sixth innings, the Royals had some room the breath. Bozeman found some life in the bottom of the seventh, attempting a rally, but the Bucks could only score one run – and Jay held on for the crown.

Ethan McDonald recorded three hits, including a double, and scored three runs to pace the Royals. Nick Baxley added two hits with a double, plus three RBIs. Grayson Shehan added a single and a double with two RBIs. Brady Godwin singled with an RBI. Wyatt Peaden tacked on a hit and a run.

Jax Lowery posted a double with two runs. Landon Golden also plated a run to round out Jay's scoring.

On the mound, McDonald threw 3.2 innings, striking out five batters. He surrendered two hits, two runs (one earned) and a walk. Godwin, in relief, fanned four batters in 3.1 innings. He allowed three hits, one run and four walks.

Jay, with a state championship in tow, concludes the season with an 18-10 overall record.

Track and field

Class 2A state championship meet: The University of North Florida hosted the state track and field championship meet for Class 2A.

Area athletes from West Florida, Pensacola, Pensacola Catholic and Northview all competed among the state's best.

As a team, on the boys side, West Florida posted the best finish with five team points, earning 36th. Pensacola Catholic took 56th with one point.

On the girls side, West Florida earned 26th place with eight team points.

Here are the final finishes for area athletes. First- through eighth-place finishes earned points.

Boys

• Shot put: Jacob Spence (Northview) – 45 feet, 10.75 inches (13th)
• Long jump: Dominick Nicholson (West Florida) – 20 feet, 1 inch (18th)
• Pole vault: Arman Truitt (West Florida) – 14 feet, 3.25 inches (4th)
• 110-meter hurdles: Arman Truitt (West Florida) – 15.53 seconds (12th)
• 400-meter hurdles: Zaden Purifoy (Pensacola Catholic) – 56.92 seconds (8th); Arman Truitt (West Florida) – 57.226 seconds (9th)
• 3,200-meter run: Xander McLaughlin (Pensacola Catholic) – 9 minutes, 48.11 seconds (12th)
• 4x400-meter relay: West Florida (Richard Curtis, James Reese, Ryan Provau, Isaiah Simpson) – 3 minutes, 25.57 seconds (14th)

Girls

• Pole vault: Shania Beeks (West Florida) – 9 feet, 10 inches (7th)
• Long jump: Addison Manning (Pensacola Catholic) – 16 feet, 10 inches (14th)
• Shot put: Amber Irby (Northview) – 35 feet, 1.75 inches (11th)
• 4x100-meter relay: Pensacola (Maci Wright, Synia Hughley, Jakheria Kelser, Naryia Simpkins) – 48.91 seconds (9th)
• 400-meter dash: Natalie Jackson (Pensacola Catholic) – 58.86 seconds (11th)
• 400-meter hurdles: Jennifer Mims (West Florida) – 1 minutes, 2.54 seconds (3rd); Synia Hughley (Pensacola) – 1 minute, 6.07 seconds (11th)
• 4x400-meter relay: Pensacola (Kimiya Travis, Jakheria Kelser, Synia Hughley, Naryia Simpkins) – 4 minutes, 9.41 seconds (14th)

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Jay baseball claims first state championship since 1970, beating Bozeman | AREA ROUNDUP