
Eight Pensacola area teams have qualified for the FHSAA baseball playoffs, with brackets released on April 20. The playoffs start with regional quarterfinals on April 24 for classes 4A-7A and April 25 for classes 1A-3A.
See FHSAA baseball playoff brackets for 8 Pensacola area teams
The path to an FHSAA baseball state championship has been revealed for eight Pensacola area teams after the brackets were released on April 20.
Pace (6A) and Northview (Rural) automatically qualified by winning district championships, while x other teams earned at-large bids
The state playoffs begin for classes 1A-7A with a winner-take-all regional quarterfinals. Classes 4A-7A will play their regional quarterfinals on April 24, with classes 1A-3A playing on April 25.
The Rural state playoffs start with the regional semifinals, which will be May 1-2 for all classes, followed by the regional finals on May 8-9. The regional semifinals and finals will be best two-out-of-three series, with all games at the higher seed. Game one will be on the first day, with game two and an if-necessary game three on Saturday.
This is different from last year's state playoffs, where all three regional rounds were best two-out-of-three series.
All roads lead to the state championships, which will be May 13-16 and May 18-20 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
Below is a breakdown of all regional brackets featuring Pensacola area teams. District champions are marked with an asterisk (*) and will host in the regional quarterfinals unless playing a higher seeded district champion.
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
Patriots Braiden Cheshire (1) blasts a 3-RBI walk-off home run to defeat the Aggies 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
Patriots Aaron Comer (8) heads home on the 3-RBI walk-off home run by Braiden Cheshire (1) to defeat the Aggies 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
Patriots Braiden Cheshire (1) heads home on his 3-RBI walk-off home run to defeat the Aggies 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
Patriots celebrate their 4-2 victory thanks to the 3-RBI walk-off home run by Braiden Cheshire (1) in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
More photos are coming soon.
1 / 8
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
1 / 8
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
2 / 8
Patriots Braiden Cheshire (1) blasts a 3-RBI walk-off home run to defeat the Aggies 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
3 / 8
Patriots Aaron Comer (8) heads home on the 3-RBI walk-off home run by Braiden Cheshire (1) to defeat the Aggies 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
4 / 8
Patriots Braiden Cheshire (1) heads home on his 3-RBI walk-off home run to defeat the Aggies 4-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
5 / 8
Patriots celebrate their 4-2 victory thanks to the 3-RBI walk-off home run by Braiden Cheshire (1) in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
6 / 8
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
7 / 8
Patriots celebrate with the trophy after their dramatic walk-off 4-2 victory over the Aggies during the Tate vs Pace 1-6A District championship baseball game at Pace High School on April 16, 2026.
8 / 8
More photos are coming soon.
(1) Pace* vs. (8) Winter Park Lake Howell*
(4) Tate vs. (5) St. Augustine Tocoi Creek
(2) Gainesville Buchholz* vs. (7) Jacksonville Mandarin*
(3) St. Johns Bartram Trail vs. (6) Orange Park Oakleaf
Analysis: Pace keep its spot atop not just Region 1 but the entire 6A classification after winning their sixth straight district title on April 16. This means it will have homefield advantage in the first three rounds if it continues to advance. If not for Braiden Cheshire's walkoff home run int he District 1-6A final, Pace would be making a nearly seven hour trip to Lake Howell for the regional quarterfinals.
The Patriots are making their sixth straight state playoff appearance and are looking to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022, when they finished as 6A state runner-up. Pace has won four state championships, with the last coming in 2010.
Last year, Pace lost to Buchholz 2-1 (11-4, 2-11, 5-4 in the Region 1-6A final. The Bobcats (19-7) are the No. 2 seed in the region this year.
Lake Howell (11-16) won the District 4-6A championship to clinch its first state playoff appearance since 2019. The Silverhawks haven't won a state payoff game since 2011, when they advanced to the Region 1-6A final.
Tate (20-7) keeps a regional quarterfinal home game despite a heartbreaking loss to Pace in the District 1-6A final. The Aggies are making their second straight state playoff appearance and were swept by Buchholz in the Region 1-6A semifinals (3-2, 3-2) a year ago.
Tate is the Pensacola area's most successful program, winning seven state championships, with the last one coming in 2005.
Tocoi Creek (14-13), which opened in 2021, is making it third straight state playoff appearance. The Toros were swept by Pace (0-15, 0-11) in the Region 1-6A semifinals a year ago
If Pace and Tate both advance they would meet at Pace in the regional semifinals. The Patriots won two of three meetings between the two teams this season, including last week's district final.
(1) Tallahassee Chiles vs. (8) Ponte Vedra*
(4) Gulf Breeze vs. (5) Tallahassee Lincoln*
(2) Niceville* vs. (7) St Johns Beachside
(3) Lynn Haven Mosley vs. (6) Lake City Columbia*
Analysis: Gulf Breeze (16-11) hung on to its top four seed in the region, but will have to travel to Lincoln (13-14) after the Trojans upset Mosley and Chiles to win the District 2-5A title. This is a rematch from earlier this season, as Gulf Breeze beat Lincoln 7-2 on April 3.
Lincoln advanced to the Final Four a year ago and is making its fifth straight state playoff appearance. The Trojans have won their regional quarterfinal matchup in each of the previous four appearances.
Gulf Breeze is making its second straight state playoff appearance and were lost to Chiles 2-1 (5-4, 4-13, 2-9) in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals a year ago. Dolphins head coach Randall Fant will not return next season, but will continue to coach the team if they advance.
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) pitches against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Travis Bright (13) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats third baseman Eli Borjas (5) settles under a pop up for an out against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Travis Bright (13) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) safely heads to first as Wildcats pitcher Travis Bright (13) plays the bunt, but doesn’t have a play during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators Hunter Kroll (2) dives into third ahead of the tag by Wildcats Eli Borjas (5) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Travis Bright (13) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators Hunter Kroll (2) heads to the plate to take a 2-0 lead over the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Eli Borjas (5) bats against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) pitches against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators (23) heads to the plate to take a 3-0 lead over the Wildcats on a 2-RBI double by Tyler Wilson (20) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators Josh Hagan (3) heads to the plate to take a 4-0 lead over the Wildcats on a 2-RBI double by Tyler Wilson (20) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Angel Zuniga (10) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators J.R. Riley (5) puts the ball in play against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Angel Zuniga (10) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats pitcher Angel Zuniga (10) throws to first for an out against the Gators on a comebacker during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Gators third baseman J.R. Riley (5) throws to first for an out against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
The Wildcats catcher (29) fires to first while playing a bunt by the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
The Gators take a 5-0 lead as a shot by Eli Wilbanks (10) gets past a diving Wildcats shortstop Anthony McAthur (7) for an RBI-double during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
The Gators Cohen Rush (7) heads to the plate to take a 5-0 lead over the Wildcats on an RBI-double by Eli Wilbanks (10) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
The Gators Eli Wilbanks (10) heads to the plate to take a 6-0 lead over the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Grayson Ellis (23) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Anthony McAthur (7) plays a grounder up the middle and fires to first for an out against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Wildcats Anthony McAthur (7) plays a grounder up the middle and fires to first for an out against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
A shot by Wildcats Grayson Ellis (23) gets past a diving Gators second baseman Eli Wilbanks (10) for a single during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
1 / 25
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) pitches against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
1 / 25
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) pitches against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
2 / 25
Wildcats Travis Bright (13) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
3 / 25
Wildcats third baseman Eli Borjas (5) settles under a pop up for an out against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
4 / 25
Wildcats Travis Bright (13) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
5 / 25
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) safely heads to first as Wildcats pitcher Travis Bright (13) plays the bunt, but doesn’t have a play during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
6 / 25
Gators Hunter Kroll (2) dives into third ahead of the tag by Wildcats Eli Borjas (5) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
7 / 25
Wildcats Travis Bright (13) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
8 / 25
Gators Hunter Kroll (2) heads to the plate to take a 2-0 lead over the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
9 / 25
Wildcats Eli Borjas (5) bats against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
10 / 25
Gators Clayton Sanders (18) pitches against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
11 / 25
Gators (23) heads to the plate to take a 3-0 lead over the Wildcats on a 2-RBI double by Tyler Wilson (20) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
12 / 25
Gators Josh Hagan (3) heads to the plate to take a 4-0 lead over the Wildcats on a 2-RBI double by Tyler Wilson (20) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
13 / 25
Wildcats Angel Zuniga (10) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
14 / 25
Gators J.R. Riley (5) puts the ball in play against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
15 / 25
Wildcats Angel Zuniga (10) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
16 / 25
Wildcats pitcher Angel Zuniga (10) throws to first for an out against the Gators on a comebacker during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
17 / 25
Gators third baseman J.R. Riley (5) throws to first for an out against the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
18 / 25
The Wildcats catcher (29) fires to first while playing a bunt by the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
19 / 25
The Gators take a 5-0 lead as a shot by Eli Wilbanks (10) gets past a diving Wildcats shortstop Anthony McAthur (7) for an RBI-double during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
20 / 25
The Gators Cohen Rush (7) heads to the plate to take a 5-0 lead over the Wildcats on an RBI-double by Eli Wilbanks (10) during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
21 / 25
The Gators Eli Wilbanks (10) heads to the plate to take a 6-0 lead over the Wildcats during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
22 / 25
Wildcats Grayson Ellis (23) pitches against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
23 / 25
Wildcats Anthony McAthur (7) plays a grounder up the middle and fires to first for an out against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
24 / 25
Wildcats Anthony McAthur (7) plays a grounder up the middle and fires to first for an out against the Gators during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
25 / 25
A shot by Wildcats Grayson Ellis (23) gets past a diving Gators second baseman Eli Wilbanks (10) for a single during the Booker T. Washington vs Escambia 1-4A District semifinal baseball game at Escambia High School in Pensacola on April 15, 2026.
Analysis: Escambia (15-12) dropped from the No. 6 seed to the No. 7 seed in the most recent FHSAA rankings.
The Gators have the same record as Bishop Kenny (15-12) but the Knights have the No. 2 seed after playing the second toughest schedule in the 4A classification according to the FHSAA rankings.
Bishop Kenny is a playoff mainstay, making its 11th straight appearance. The Knights were swpt by Clay (2-3, 1-9) in the Region 1-4A quarterfinals a year ago. Escambia is making its fourth straight playoff appearance and was swept by Clay (1-2, 2-6) in the Region 1-4A semifinals a year ago. The Gators have won five state titles, but their last came in 1991.
Outside of No. 1 seed Choctaw (22-5), no other team in the Region 1-4A playoffs enters more than three games above .500. Defending Region 1-4A champion Arnold (15-12) is the No. 4 seed.
Analysis: West Florida (17-8) drops from No. 3 seed in Region 1-3A in the previous FHSAA rankings to No. 4 but keeps a regional quarterfinal home game.
Both the Jaguars and Indians were district runner-ups. West Florida lost to South Walton in the District 1-1A final, while Baldwin lost to Suwanee in the District 3-3A final.
West Florida is making its third straight state playoff appearance and lost to Suwanee 2-1 (2-5, 9-8, 0-7) in the Region 1-3A semifinals a year ago. Baldwin is making its second straight state playoff appearance and lost to Suwanee 2-1 (4-9, 8-2, 5-6) in the Region 1-3A quarterfinals a year ago.
The winner will likely face defending state runner-up South Walton (23-4), who beat West Florida 3-1 in the District 1-1A championship on April 16. The Seahawks are ranked No. 2 overall in the state and have lost in the 4A state championship each of the last two seasons.
Analysis: This will be the fourth sport that Bolles (18-7) and Catholic (16-10) will play each other in the playoffs this year. Bolles football beat Catholic in the Region 1-2A final, while Catholic's boys soccer team got the best of Bolles in the Region 1-2A quarterfinals. Pensacola Catholic boys lacrosse will play at Bolles in the Region 1-2A quarterfinals on Tuesday.
For baseball, the Crusaders jumped from the No. 8 seed in the previous FHSAA rankings to the No. 6 seed for the regional playoffs after going 4-1 in the final two weeks of the regular season. Catholic lost to Bozeman in the District 1-2A championship and returns to the state playoffs after a one year absence.
Bolles is part of a loaded District 3-2A, which has the top three seeds in the Region 1-2A bracket. This is the Bulldogs fourth straight playoff appearance, which includes a 2-1 series loss to Bozeman (17-5, 3-9, 3-4) in the Region 1-2A quarterfinals a year ago. Bolles has won eight state championships in baseball, but none since 2017.
Defending state runner-up Trinity Christian (20-7) is the No. 1 seed in the region and is looking for its third straight Final Four appearance. This region is loaded, with the top five teams ranking in the top 10 in all of 2A and in the state's top 50.
Analysis: The Chiefs (18-8) take the top seed and homefield advantage in the first two rounds after beating Jay in the Rural District 1 championship on April 17.
Northview is looking to wins its first state playoff games since it advanced to the regional finals and in 2022 and is looking to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2015. Chipley (15-10) is making its sixth straight state playoff appearance. Northview beat Chipley 17-3 on Feb. 24.
Jay (14-7) remains the No. 2 seed despite losing the district final, but will have to travel to Holmes County (12-14). It's a rematch of last year's Rural Region 1 final, which the Blue Devils swpet the Royals (10-5, 3-1) on the way to their second state championship in the last four years. Jay won the 2024 1A state championship before the FHSAA expanded the Rural classification to baseball in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 8 Pensacola area baseball teams qualify for FHSAA playoffs
Pace and Northview automatically qualified by winning district championships, while six other teams earned at-large bids.
The playoffs begin on April 24 for classes 4A-7A and on April 25 for classes 1A-3A.
The brackets for the FHSAA baseball playoffs were released on April 20, detailing the matchups for the eight Pensacola area teams.
Teams qualify by winning district championships or receiving at-large bids based on their performance during the season.


UConn guard Solo Ball will miss the entire 2026-27 season for wrist surgery.
Dick Dakich faces backlash for calling Rapinoe a 'predator' in Bird breakup comments.
F1 Announces Changes to 2026 Engine Rules Ahead of Miami GP
Ilia Topuria Criticizes Arman Tsarukyan's Behavior, Open to Fight
Ruud Gullit discusses Jude Bellingham and the evolution of Real Madrid.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.