JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The St. Johns Country Day baseball team continues to shine with its back against the wall.
For the second consecutive game, James Gilson delivered the walk-off winner, this one a two-run, two-out double over the centerfielder’s head to give the Spartans dramatic 5-4 win over Northside Christian in the Class 2A state semifinals in Fort Myers on Monday morning. St. Johns (24-6) will play Wednesday at 11 a.m. for the state championship.
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The Spartans were on the verge of sewing up a berth in the title game when they led 4-3 with two outs in the seventh. But Ashton Cox ripped a triple down the right field line and pushed in two runs to go in front 4-3.
Like it has many times this year, St. Johns took that deficit as a challenge. With Kyle Boylston and Kolt Myers on first and second and two outs, Gilson tattooed a 2-1 pitch over a drawn in outfield. Boylston scored from second and Myers slid home and beat the throw as the Spartans raced to mob Gilson and touch off a celebration.
Gilson belted a two-run homer in the regional final to walk off with an 8-6 win over North Florida Christian in the third round. Can the Spartans bring home their first crown? They reached the championship game in 2021 and lost 5-3 to Out-of-Door Academy. Last season, they played Lakeland Christian for the title and lost a 5-2 game.