Fort Myers Fl- The St. Johns Country Day School Spartans are state champions once again.
Behind another dominant performance from Brayden Harris, St. Johns Country Day defeated Orangewood Christian School 6-2 in the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship game to secure the program’s second state title in three seasons.
The championship capped a remarkable 26-8 season for head coach Tom Lucas and the Spartans, who first won a state title in 2024 when they claimed the Class 2A crown.
2026 senior year stats: #1 State Championship! BA: 314, R: 22, RBI: 19, PA: 107, K’s: 17, BB: 12, OBP: 434, FP: .930. @SJCDbaseball @therealtomlucas @coachmattcarter pic.twitter.com/JCM6vnoQKw
— Jonas Wells (@JonasAWells2026) May 17, 2026
Third-Inning Surge Sets the Tone
After two scoreless innings, the Spartans broke through in the bottom of the third.
Preston Cole delivered the first RBI of the game to put SJCD ahead 1-0. Madden Williams followed with another run-scoring hit, and Jonas Wells added a third RBI to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
That cushion was more than enough for Harris, who controlled the game from the mound and at the plate.
Big time web gem by Brayden Harris in @FHSAA 1A State title game yesterday. Huge thank you to @44ProCustom gloves for all the support in outfitting our players with the best equipment in the game. Thank you @TheDataCage for all you do for these guys. #44Family pic.twitter.com/DsekVHPCxL
— St Johns Baseball (@SJCDbaseball) May 17, 2026
Rodgers Delivers the Knockout Blow
Orangewood Christian trimmed the deficit to 3-2, but the Spartans responded in the bottom of the sixth.
With two runners on and one out, Hunter Rodgers ripped an RBI hit to extend the lead to 5-2. St. Johns added one more insurance run, taking a 6-2 advantage into the final inning.
In the top of the seventh, Harris slammed the door in dominant fashion, striking out the side to secure the championship.
Harris Caps a Historic Career
The Florida State Seminoles commit turned in one of the best two-way seasons in Florida high school baseball.
2026 Pitching Stats
- 85 innings pitched
- 45 hits allowed
- 13 earned runs
- 19 walks
- 165 strikeouts
- Led Florida in strikeouts
- Ranked among the top five nationally
2026 Batting Stats
- .400 batting average
- 1.117 OPS
- 42 hits
- 7 home runs
- 31 RBIs
- .381 average and .608 slugging percentage listed in season summaries
Harris also posted a .381 batting average and led the team with seven home runs, while striking out 155 batters according to team totals.
Career Totals
- 526 strikeouts
- .370 batting average
- 143 hits
His stellar four-year career established him as one of the most accomplished players in school history.
Offensive Leaders
Cole led the Spartans with a .484 on-base percentage and stole 12 bases. Rodgers batted .359 with 5 home runs, while Mason Jones added 6 home runs to tie for the team lead. Kaeson Johns had 25 hits and 17 RBI with 3 home runs on the season. Williams had 26 hits, 21 RBIs and 3 home runs. Chandler Dantzler ha 19 hits and 8 RBI, while Gavin Coffey 17 hits, 13 RBI and a home run on the year. Hudson Dantzler, and Evan Sproull both went yard on the year for the Spartans
B3 | SJCD 3, Orangewood Christian 1
— Prep Baseball Florida (@PrepBaseballFL) May 16, 2026
St. Johns gets three runs on the board in the 3rd. RBI singles from Madden Williams and Jonas Wells.@SJCDbaseball | @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/SJiMGbp9iU
Championship Road
The Spartans dominated throughout the postseason:
- Rocky Bayou — 15-0, First Round
- University Christian School — 2-0, Second Round
- St. John Paul II Catholic High School — 2-0, Third Round
- Schoolhouse Preparatory School — 5-0, State Semifinals
- Orangewood Christian — 6-2, Championship
Signature Wins and Defensive Dominance
During the regular season, St. Johns Country Day earned key victories over: Trinity Christian Academy, 4-3. Trinity will play for the Class 2A title today. They also defeated Baldwin High School, 2-1 who won the Gateway Conference Championship.
With 8 shut-outs, the Spartans added another shining chapter to their rich baseball history in 2026, powering their way to a state championship with a season full of clutch hits, dominant pitching, and relentless defense. Coffey had 65 strikeouts with 6 saves. Ethan Bissell had 51 strikeouts, while Williams struck out 36 batters. Jones and Mason Schnell registered saves from the mound this year.
Building a Dynasty
From Cole’s spark at the top of the lineup to Rodgers’ clutch sixth-inning hit and Harris’ unforgettable final strikeout, the 2026 Spartans showcased everything that defines championship baseball.
When the final pitch crossed the plate, the celebration began. The Spartans had done it again.
State champions. Again.
