Fort Myers Fl- All year the St. Johns Country Day Spartans have had a big play from one of their big time playmakers at the plate. For example, the Spartans advanced to the Final Four when Kyle Boylston hit a game tying home run versus North Florida Christian in the Regional Finals. This paved the way for George Gilson, who delivered a 2-run walk off homer to give his team the 8-6 win to advance to the Final 4.
There is that man again! Kyle Boylston delivers the first 💣 of the 7th to tie things up. 💪⚾️ pic.twitter.com/lojKCwarXf
— St Johns Baseball (@SJCDbaseball) May 15, 2024
In the Final 4 facing Northside Christian, St. Johns Country Day trailed by a score of 4-3 when in the bottom of 7th, George Gilson hit a double to drive in 2 runs to send the Spartans to title game. It was the second time in two games where Gilson delivered a walk-off winner, leading the Spartans over Northside Christian 5-4 in the state semifinal.
Walk-off Game Winner!!! 2024 IF @GlgeorgeJames sends @SJCDbaseball to the @FHSAA 2A State Championship Game as he ropes this one into deep LC for a 2-run double, giving the Spartans the 5-4 victory in the bottom of the 7th. Big moment for the @Flagler_BSB commit. @DiamondProMedia pic.twitter.com/Is2rbDXRme
— Mike Maerz (@Mike_Maerz) May 20, 2024
Certainly the Spartans couldn’t do it again? Right? Well guess again. In the Class 2A State Championship, tied 3-3 in extra innings, Gabriel Gilliand would hit a fast floater to right, but a dropped ball on the third strike allowed base runner Connor O’Steen to score from third to give the Spartans the amazing 4-3 win and the Class 2A FHSAA State Championship. The first baseball championship ever in Clay County.
2024 #FHSAA Baseball #StateChampionships ⚾️🏆
— FHSAA (@FHSAA) May 22, 2024
Class 2A State Championship:
Extra Innings, FINAL/8- #MiamiChristian 3, @SJCDbaseball 4 pic.twitter.com/Z2tPzFGQos
The scoring started when senior Kyle Boylston stole 2nd base, putting him in position when Kolt Myers delivered a 2 out RBI single to give St Johns Country Day the 1-0 lead in the 3rd. Kolt Myers showed himself to be clutch all through the playoffs.
He got the win on the mound striking out 3 against North Florida Christian in the Regional Final. In the championship game, He got the RBI when Seth Alford hit a shot to the gap, bringing in 2 runs as the Spartans took a 3-0 lead in the 3rd.
E3 | Miami Christian 0, SJCD 3
— Prep Baseball Florida (@PrepBaseballFL) May 22, 2024
• @SJCDbaseball breaks through in the 3rd
~ Kolt Myers RBI 1B
~ Seth Alford 2 RBI 1B 👇 pic.twitter.com/Um1rrStCj3
Yet, Miami Christian would get back into it when Alejandro Abreut drove in a run with a shot past the short stop as he brought the score closer 3-1. Ronny Cruz then hit a sacrifice fly ball down the middle to the outfield, yet an off target throw allowed the tying run to score for Miami Christian in the bottom of the 7th. The inning where the Spartans had come up big the last two games, was a big disaster for them in the biggest game.
However, this team all year had shown resilience and poise in pressure situations, and it showed. Said head coach Tom Lucas after the game, “we’ve been extremely battle tested, the four extra inning games that we’ve been in we’ve won all four, and we’ve walked off the last three games, so I just think these guys were prepared for that”.- Tom Lucas
The state championship caps off a stellar season where the Spartans went 25-6. Seth Alford led the team with 6 home runs and tied for first in RBIs with James Gilson (26). Gleason had 4 home runs on the year and led the team with 37 hits. Kyle Boylston hit 5 home runs, and had 30 hits on the season including a grand slam against Bishop Kenny earlier in the year.
On the mound, Jack Ensell led the team with 96 strike-outs. Austin Stratman was right behind him with 71 KOs on the season. It was truly a total team effort though, as the coaches will tell you. Every game someone came up with a big play, and that’s how the St Johns Country Day Spartans won the big game.
