Vero Beach High baseball team reached the Florida state semifinals after overcoming early-season injuries. They will face top-seeded Venice High on Friday at Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers.
Key points
Vero Beach High baseball team faced early-season injuries
Coach Bryan Rahal adjusted player positions throughout the season
Vero Beach will play in the Class 7A State Semifinals
Match against top-seeded Venice High
Game scheduled for 4 p.m. at Lee Health Sports Complex
Mentioned in this story
Lee Health Sports ComplexMinnesota Twins
Vero Beach HighVenice HighClass 7A State Semifinals
Vero Beach had to overcome some early-season injuries by shuffling players around to get where they wanted to go.
Coach Bryan Rahal and his staff mixed and matched throughout the season to come up with the winning combination.
For the second time in three seasons, Vero Beach will play in the Final 4.
At 4 p.m. Friday, Vero Beach will play top-seeded Venice High in the Class 7A State Semifinals at Lee Health Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium, spring training home of the Minnesota Twins, in Fort Myers.
“We played some guys in places they haven’t played for a long time. We put some guys in some uncomfortable situations,” Rahal said. “In the end, it ended up helping us a lot. Just overcoming different injuries at different times. Guys you are counting on to do big things missing a portion. We had some preseason injuries and didn’t know what those outcomes might be. That’s one big thing to overcome.”
Vero Beach High players dogpile on the pitcher's mound against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High pitcher Colt Miller jumps into the arms of teammate Cody Morgan as catcher Dom Lopez and Caleb Wood (2) approach against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Q&A
What challenges did Vero Beach High baseball face this season?
Vero Beach High baseball faced early-season injuries that required player shuffling to find a winning combination.
When and where is Vero Beach playing in the state semifinals?
Vero Beach will play in the state semifinals at 4 p.m. on Friday at Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers.
Who is Vero Beach's opponent in the state semifinals?
Vero Beach's opponent in the state semifinals is top-seeded Venice High.
How many times has Vero Beach reached the Final 4 in recent seasons?
Vero Beach has reached the Final 4 for the second time in three seasons.
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Vero Beach High pitcher Colt Miller jumps into the arms of teammate Cody Morgan as catcher Dom Lopez approaches after defeating Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High players storm the field against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High third baseman Hudson Schlitt catches the final out of the game against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Colt Miller delivers a pitch for Vero Beach High against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Hudson Schlitt celebrates scoring a run against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Hudson Schlitt slides safely into home plate against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Jason Pomar of Vero Beach High is tagged out allowing teammate Hudson Schlitt to score against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Hunter Johnston delivers a pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Eli Thiemann eludes the tag against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Hunter Johnson makes a diving catch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High catcher Dom Lopez and Coach Bryan Rahal listen to the home plate umpire after Lopez was called out for ducking into a pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Charles "Chuck" Singletary IV watches the flight of his home run against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
TJ McLaughlin pitches for Vero Beach High against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Action between Vero Beach against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Cody Morgan leaps to catch a throw against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High fans watch the action beyond the left field fence against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Jordan Tomas celebrates at second base against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Jordan Tomas ducks out of the way as Park Vista first basemanOwen Dever leaps to catch a throw in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Dom Lopez connects for a double against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach HIgh baseball coach Bryan Rahal intently watches the action against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Cody Morgan connects for a hit against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High shortstop Charles "Chuck" Singletary IV leaps to make a throw to first baseman Nate Downey against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Dom Lopez of Vero Beach High ducks out of the way of an inside pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
The Vero Beach High coaching staff huddles before the game against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High starting pitcher Brandon Walker delivers a pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High players dogpile on the pitcher's mound against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High players dogpile on the pitcher's mound against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High pitcher Colt Miller jumps into the arms of teammate Cody Morgan as catcher Dom Lopez and Caleb Wood (2) approach against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High pitcher Colt Miller jumps into the arms of teammate Cody Morgan as catcher Dom Lopez approaches after defeating Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High players storm the field against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High third baseman Hudson Schlitt catches the final out of the game against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Colt Miller delivers a pitch for Vero Beach High against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Hudson Schlitt celebrates scoring a run against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Hudson Schlitt slides safely into home plate against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Jason Pomar of Vero Beach High is tagged out allowing teammate Hudson Schlitt to score against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Hunter Johnston delivers a pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Eli Thiemann eludes the tag against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Hunter Johnson makes a diving catch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High catcher Dom Lopez and Coach Bryan Rahal listen to the home plate umpire after Lopez was called out for ducking into a pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Charles "Chuck" Singletary IV watches the flight of his home run against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
TJ McLaughlin pitches for Vero Beach High against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Action between Vero Beach against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Cody Morgan leaps to catch a throw against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High fans watch the action beyond the left field fence against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Jordan Tomas celebrates at second base against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Jordan Tomas ducks out of the way as Park Vista first basemanOwen Dever leaps to catch a throw in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Dom Lopez connects for a double against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach HIgh baseball coach Bryan Rahal intently watches the action against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High's Cody Morgan connects for a hit against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High shortstop Charles "Chuck" Singletary IV leaps to make a throw to first baseman Nate Downey against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Dom Lopez of Vero Beach High ducks out of the way of an inside pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
The Vero Beach High coaching staff huddles before the game against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
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Best Photos: Vero Beach baseball headed back to states
Vero Beach High starting pitcher Brandon Walker delivers a pitch against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach went into the season looking to play Caleb Wood primarily at shortstop or third base.
When Wood suffered a hamstring injury early in the preseason, Rahal quickly shifted to Plan B.
Charles “Chuck” Singletary IV, who had played second and third base during the summer but primarily was an outfielder, became the choice to take over at short, even though Singletary played two innings at the position during the preseason and took minimal repetitions there.
“Our coaches worked with him a little bit in the fall and they would say, ‘Hey, he’s a pretty good infielder. He’s got some good action.’ They liked what they saw,” Rahal said. “The first time I brought him into practice there, I see what they saw. When we had an injury that opened a need for him to move to the infield, we knew he could do it. We just kinda threw him by fire.”
Singletary had visions of playing in the outfield when he transferred from Fort Pierce Central High.
“I thought I was going to be an outfielder full time,” Singletary said. “And then Coach Rahal said, we are going to try you in the infield.”
Singletary played second and third base during his sophomore season at Central before spending last year in the outfield for the Cobras.
Having not played shortstop much, at first it was not a smooth transition.
“It was rough in the beginning because I hadn’t been in the infield in a while,” he said. “After I got used to it and started taking more ground balls, it was fine. I was probably the best infielder I’ve been in the past six, seven years.”
Singletary’s range and strong arm helped the transition.
“That helped a lot,” he said. “There were a lot of plays I wasn’t sure I was going to make and I made it.”
Before long, Singletary stabilized the entire infield with his play. He has made three errors and been part of nine double plays.
“He’s been a backbone of the defense, a staple, a high-energy guy. He’s been a run-denial guy,” Rahal said. “He’s really done some nice things. He settled the defense down and was a calming presence.
“He’s brought security in range to that position.”
Reading the hops off the bat and making a different throw from the outfield were the major adjustments Singletary had to make.
“That and making the throw on the run,” he said. “You have your outfield throws and your infield throws. It’s so much different.”
Singletary is proud of his accomplishments at shortstop, even though Rahal said he occasionally Singletary would get his outfielders’ glove and take some balls there in practice.
“It means a lot to me. I thought I was done with the infield,” he said. “So coming back to the infield was pretty exciting for me. I love playing. That’s really it.”
Hudson Schlitt emerges at third base
There was thought that Wood could move to third base, where he would have less of a strain on his hamstring.
“Caleb is such a hard worker. He tries to push through a lot of stuff all the time,” Rahal said. “The hammy is a nagging injury. He never really got the time to heal or fully recover. We thought he would be back.”
Wanting to keep Wood’s bat in the lineup throughout the season, he became the full-time designated hitter.
“He’s very important with the bat,” Rahal said of Wood, a senior three-year starter who takes a .400 batting average with four doubles, two triples and a team-high five home runs into the Final 4.
“He’s been a middle-of-the-lineup hitter for his career here. And I didn’t want to force that defensive grinding on that leg and have it affect his offensive production.”
Rahal turned to junior Hudson Schlitt at the hot corner.
“I was definitely expecting to hit in the lineup a lot,” Schlitt said. “At third, I was expecting to switch and split time with someone, but I’m not complaining.
“I played third a lot of my life. In the offseason and during the summer I played third a lot. I’m used to it at third.”
“He’s another guy who brings energy. He brings range,” Rahal said of Schlitt. “Offensively, he’s found ways to compete. The neat thing about him is he seems to get better and better each game he’s out there. It’s kinda fun. We’re going to need to get him to get better and produce.”
Schlitt raised his average to .333 with a couple of doubles and triples while holding his own defensively with three errors.
“As the season has gone on, I’ve gotten more comfortable and less anxious,” Schlitt said. “I’m a lot more confident and trusting my ability and teammates around me to go out and play.
“I knew I had to prove myself coming in. I came out and worked really hard in the offseason and trusted myself and give myself a shot to go and play. I’m really excited for this opportunity in states.”
Tomas’ injury forces lineup movement
Vero Beach High players dogpile on the pitcher's mound against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High players dogpile on the pitcher's mound against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
The midseason wrist injury to left fielder Jordan Tomas, not only required a defensive replacement but a shift in the batting order.
The left-handed hitting Tomas was an effective No. 2 hitter behind left-handed leadoff hitter Nate Downey. Tomas also provided intelligence on the base paths.
Rahal used a few different players defensively in left field, mainly Eli Thiemann.
In the lineup, Rahal elevated hot-hitting catcher Dom Lopez to the No. 2 spot.
“Dom started the season not the way he wanted to, but he found a way to get going a little bit,” Rahal said of the junior who has a .329 average with four doubles, a triple and his first home run. “A little change of scenery for him, and he’s been a big spark down the stretch. He gave us a jolt.”
When Tomas returned a month ago, Rahal inserted him in the No. 9 spot for a couple of reasons. It kept the two left-handed hitters back-to-back and it was a spot where Tomas thrived as a sophomore, hitting .326.
“That was a big boost for us,” Rahal said. “The old saying: turn a negative into a positive. In those adverse times with an unsuspecting injury, a lot of time out. It allowed us to develop some depth. Eli Thiemann did some nice things during that time.
“Jordan coming back gave him another perspective and allowed him to work on some things. He kinda gave us a spark at the bottom of the lineup that we were missing.”
Pitching staff was not exempt from injuries
While Rahal called the pitching staff “the backbone of the team,” it was not exempt to the injury bug.
Before the season Cody Morgan suffered a broken bone in his foot which caused him to miss the first couple of weeks of the regular season, and then had an ankle injury that cost him some time during the season.
Vero Beach High's Cody Morgan connects for a hit against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Cody Morgan connects for a hit against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Again, Rahal and the coaches used their resources to plug in guys like Downey, Jaden Medecke, JT McLaughlin and Colt Miller to make up the innings missed by Morgan, who is 9-4 with a 1.00 earned run average and has 30 wins during his career.
“It was really neat to see everybody picking each other up in different roles,” Rahal said.
It all came together at the right time
There were other factors involved, too, like replacing a senior-laden team from a year ago, blending in transfers, including Downey, who never played first base before becoming a fixture there.
“It’s really a cool team,” Rahal said. “We’ve gotten these boosts, pick-me-ups and sparks from different guys in different spots. And not spots that you plan for or prepare for. But adversity rears its head and you can’t look away. You’ve got to persevere. All we can try to do is get the pieces of the puzzle to fit.”
Winners of 10 straight, Vero Beach is searching for its first baseball championship in program history.
And the path is not easy.
Vero Beach High's Jordan Tomas celebrates at second base against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Vero Beach High's Jordan Tomas celebrates at second base against Park Vista in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series Saturday afternoon in Vero Beach. Vero Beach swept the series to move to the Final 4.
Somehow after sweeping its five regional games, Vero Beach fell behind Hagerty High, which lost a regional game, in the updated Florida High School Athletic Association rankings heading into the Final 4. And Vero Beach owned a regular-season win over Hagerty.
That dropped Vero Beach to the fourth seed, thus a state semifinal round game against top-seed Venice, ranked first in the country in some national polls and winners of six state titles, the most recent in 2019.
Class 7A is not any easier on the other side of the bracket. Second-seed 26-6 Parkland Stoneman Douglas, owners of five straight state titles, takes on third-seed 22-8 Hagerty at 7 p.m. Friday.
The championship game is 5 p.m. Saturday.
Stoneman Douglas eliminated Vero Beach two years ago in the state semifinals.
“I was expecting to definitely go to states,” Schlitt said. “I thought we had a good chance to go. We have the team, the guys and the coaching staff. This was not a surprise to make the states.”
