Marching onto the Region 4-4A semifinals, the path to a Florida High School Athletic Association- record 12th state championship for the Key West High baseball team now goes through top-ranked Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, May 11, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
Not only are the Chiefs the No. 1 seed in the region bracket, they are also ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, according to MaxPreps.com, as Cardinal Gibbons (21-4-2 overall) is currently on a 10-game win streak, including a 3-0 victory against Somerset Pembroke Pines in the region quarterfinals.
On a three-game win streak of its own, as well as triumphing in five of its last six games, Key West (15-13 overall) is currently ranked 11th in 4A with the second- toughest strength of schedule in the class at 14.0, three points higher than the Chiefs’ 11.0 power ranking. In the last six games, the Conchs’ pitching staff has combined to allow just 11 runs, five in the loss to Eustis during the regular-season finale, while during the three postseason victories, the Conchs have outscored their opponents 9-5.
Looking to keep the streak alive, Key West will start Jacob Burnham on the mound against a Cardinal Gibbons squad that has scored 13 runs and allowed just two thus far in the postseason. One of those runs was during a 2-1 victory against Jensen Beach in the District 13-4A Championships, the team Key West just defeated with a walk-off 5-4 win in extra innings during the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 9, at Rex Weech Field.
A four straight victory for Key West puts the Conchs back in the region championship game, which is where their season ended last year, as Key West is now four wins away from a potential 12th state championship, which would be a record in Florida as they are now even with Westminster Christian, both with 11 titles.
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