ORANGE PARK – Brianna Enter struck out a remarkable 21 batters in 10 innings; but it was the missed opportunity to get No. 22, which will likely haunt her.
With one out in the top of the tenth, Enter had an 0-2 count to hitter Chloe Culp, one pitch away from potential strike out No. 22.
Unfortunately, the next pitch was right down the middle and her future Florida State teammate Culp sent it deep over the left center field fence off a old oak tree for a 2-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the tenth and Maddie Wilkes on first after being intentionally walked, Enter had a chance to redeem herself with one swing of the bat.
Enter grounded to short and the shortstop tagged second for the final out of the game allowing North Florida Christian to stun host St. Johns Country Day 2-1 in extra innings.
Neither team had an answer for hitting off either Enter or NFC eighth grader pitcher Maddie Mayo, as the two kept the other offense off the bases throughout the game.
NFC broke through early with a run to take a 1-0 lead early on and that appeared it might be enough.
However, Wilkes sent a Mayo pitch over the right field fence and off the baseball batting cages tying the game at 1-1 in the third inning.
That’s where things remained until the tenth inning as neither could muster enough offense to put up a threat.
North Florida Christian rallied in the eighth loading the bases with one out but couldn’t get the clutch hit as Enter struck out two in a row to end the threat.
In the ninth, an errant throw to first that sailed over the first baseman head allowed an Eagles runner to advance to second with no outs. A ground out advanced the runner to third with one out but Enter again got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
The loss ended the high school careers of Spartans seniors pitcher Brianna Enter (FSU), pitcher and shortstop Maddie Wilkes (Army) and catcher Linsey Arnett (Southeastern). St. Johns Country Day (14-6) saw their season come to a close as well.
North Florida Christian (12-5) will hosts University Christian on Tuesday for the right to advance to the Class 3A Final Four in Vero Beach.
