The Baker County Little League’s softball teams started play the evening of March 23 under cloudy skies following a brief opening ceremony, which was hastened by showers, at the twin fields on N. 6th St.

League officials said a prayer and introduced all sixteen teams in this year’s league before sponsor Larry Burkins of Burkins Chevrolet threw out the first pitch.

The league is divided into five age divisions ranging from 4-6 for pee wee and 13-16 for seniors.

Waddell on the mound.

Last week was one the Wildcat baseball team would like to forget.

The Cats lost a close one to district foe Bishop Kenny and then dropped games against state powers North Florida Christian and Bishop Verot in the UNF Tournament of Champions. They bounced back a little in their final game of the tourney, beating Eagle’s View.

The week started badly with a 2-1 district loss to Kenny as the Crusaders took advantage of some breaks at home on Thursday, March 15.

Chris Waddell threw five innings and Brad Stone came in for the sixth inning.

“We just didn’t execute enough to win the game,” said Coach Fred Matricardi. “We had chances but couldn’t get that big hit.”

The Cats came out on Friday with a hangover from the Kenny game and it showed as they lost to North Florida Christian 8-3. BCHS gave up five runs in the second inning and that proved to be the difference.

“We made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes and came out a little flat after the Kenny game,” commented Matricardi.

Hunter Hanks led the offense, going 3 for 4.

The Lady Wildcat softball team remained hot this week as the girls out scored opponents 32-3 on their way to a three-game sweep. Over the past six games, they have out scored opponents by an amazing 75-5 margin.

During the last week the Lady Cats shut out Bishop Kenny and Trinity Christian and beat West Nassau by seven runs. They face Paxon and Yulee March 8 and 9 at home.

The bats stayed red hot against Bishop Kenny during the 10-0 win at home on February 28. The girls broke open a scoreless game with seven runs in the third inning.

Tina Hauge, Shelby Gatto, Taylor Crummey, Clara Harvey, Brooke Roberts, Megan Farmer and Tayler McCann all scored. Gatto doubled in rally.

Haley Crews added an insurance run in the fifth and Kylie Holton and Crummey put up two more runs in the sixth to finish the scoring.

Former Wildcat baseball standout Adam Lewis is well on his way to being a star in the major leagues.

He signed with the St. Louis Cardinal organization from Mars Hill College and was one of just a handful of rookies to be invited to train with the Cardinals at their spring training venue in Jupiter, Florida.

Lewis, an outstanding catcher at Mars Hill, impressed the Cardinal staff during his time in Jupiter to the extent that he was asked to attend a special mini-camp and signed a contract on February 26.

He is the son of Anna and Woody Lewis and batted .342 for the Lions.