Clay, Suwannee march on in rare Sunday high school baseball playoffs

TL;DR

Clay's baseball team advanced in the playoffs with an 8-1 victory over Escambia, thanks to Ethan Mathis's impressive one-hitter. The game was played on a rare Sunday due to weather-related cancellations.

Key points

Clay won 8-1 against Escambia
Ethan Mathis pitched a one-hitter
Game played on Sunday due to weather delays
Clay's pitching has been dominant in playoffs
Team has limited opponents to two hits in three playoff games

ClayEscambiaFlorida High School Athletic Association

Clay's pitching steamroller is gaining momentum.

In a rare round of Sunday high school baseball, Ethan Mathis hurled a one-hitter and struck out 13 batters to lead Clay past visiting Escambia 8-1 in Game 2 of the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-4A baseball semifinal series on May 3.

The FHSAA gave special clearance to the Sunday game, normally not permitted under association rules, after weather had washed out Saturday's scheduled action in Green Cove Springs.

Following a one-hit combined shutout by Rylan McMahan and Braden Phenneger in Clay's 5-0 win in Game 1 on May 1, and McMahan's no-hitter of Wakulla in the regional first round, the Blue Devils (17-13) have limited foes to two hits in three playoff games.

McMahan went 2 for 2 in the opening game to quickly pull away from Escambia (16-14), and in Sunday's Game 2, Tyler Gunsaulus collected three RBI as Clay picked up three runs each in the second and fourth innings. Clayton Sanders' double broke up the no-hitter in the sixth.

Clay next begins the regional final series May 8 and 9 against No. 1 seed Choctawhatchee.

REGION 1-3A

Suwannee d. Fernandina Beach 2-1 (12-0, 3-4, 5-1)

Pitcher Gabe Garcia went the distance in Sunday baseball and drove in a run during a two-run first inning to help the Bulldogs knock off host Fernandina Beach 5-1 in Game 3.

Prior to weather issues, the teams had split a Friday doubleheader. Suwannee won a 12-0 rout on a three-RBI effort from Hampton Newman and a three-hitter from Kyler Watson, before the Pirates (23-6) struck back to win 4-3 in Game 2 behind six solid innings from Grady Stevens.

Garcia delivered a gritty seven-hitter Sunday for Suwannee (19-12). The pitcher forced Fernandina Beach into a double play with bases loaded to escape the fourth inning, and induced a pop-up with bases loaded to get out of the fifth.

Suwannee next travels to nationally-ranked South Walton.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sunday FHSAA baseball regional scores for Northeast Florida

Q&A

What was the score of the Clay vs. Escambia baseball playoff game?

Clay defeated Escambia 8-1 in the playoff game.

Why was the high school baseball game played on a Sunday?

The FHSAA allowed the Sunday game due to weather that canceled the originally scheduled Saturday games.

How many strikeouts did Ethan Mathis achieve in the game?

Ethan Mathis struck out 13 batters during the game.