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Welcome to the 500 club, Brayden Harris.
The St. Johns Country Day pitcher achieved his 500th career strikeout in high school baseball on May 9 against Tallahassee St. John Paul II in Game 1 of the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-1A championship series, joining an exclusive club in Sunshine State history.
"It really felt like any other strikeout," the Florida State-committed senior said. "I just trust my stuff and try not to overthink it and get behind in counts."
A strikeout machine through the past month, Harris whiffed 15 batters in that regional final, boosting his total to 511. It's a number he had targeted for a while. All-time Major League Baseball strikeout king Nolan Ryan, after all, only struck out 510 during his high school days at Alvin in Texas.
"That was really the main goal, to get 15 [to surpass Ryan]," Harris said. "And it came down to the last batter."
In Florida's history, few have attained 500. Parker's Mike Hitt fanned 584 from 1993 to 1996, striking out 11 in a state semifinal no-hitter of St. Thomas Aquinas on May 15, 1996 to achieve the state four-year record. Hitt surpassed Miami Westminster Christian's Bud Gray, with 574 K's from 1974-77, and Monsignor Pace's Alex Fernandez, who achieved 554 from 1985-88 on his way to a 10-year MLB career and a World Series championship with the 1997 Florida Marlins.
Ricky Rojas struck out 625 with Miami Northwest Christian, Miami Loyola and Miami Lakes in five seasons between 1981-85, although only 507 of those came from ninth grade to 12th. Harris, like Rojas, achieved some of his varsity strikeouts as an eighth-grader while Harris pitched at Trinity Christian.
Other Northeast Florida pitchers to approach 500 include Storm Davis (496 at University Christian, 1976-79), Eric Hurley (467 at Wolfson, 2001-04) and Bill Hemme (457 at Union County, 1974-77).
In the last two years, Harris and his strikeout arm have rocketed to new levels. In 2025, he won Florida's strikeout title last year with 149. This year, with 150, he has essentially clinched a repeat with a 28-K margin over second place. He also pitched a perfect game in the Region 1-1A opening round.
For 2026, he stands fourth on the national MaxPreps strikeout list behind only Josh Gaitan of Charlotte (Texas) with 211, Kolby Stringer of West Marion (Miss.) with 184 and Triston Felix of Monticello (Utah) with 169.
Two championships. Five hours apart.
Ponte Vedra lacrosse entered exclusive territory with its FHSAA Class 2A championships for boys (in the afternoon) and girls (in the evening) on May 9, the first team in state history to win both championships in a single season.
"It's just kind of crowned all the hard work in the Ponte Vedra lacrosse programs over the last 10 to 15 years," Sharks boys coach Chris Polanski said in a remote interview with the Times-Union following the finals.
For any team ball sports, double success is a rare feat in Florida.
The only Northeast Florida schools in FHSAA records to win boys and girls titles in the same team ball sport in one season are Ribault in basketball in 1994 (coached by Bernard Wilkes in boys hoops and Al Austin for the girls) and Nease in soccer in 2008 (with Ken Kirsch leading the boys team and current Ponte Vedra coach Dave Silverberg in charge of the girls).
Not only do Ponte Vedra's lacrosse teams train on the same field, sometimes at the same time, but Polanski said the girls squad arrived early for the deciding contest at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples to cheer the boys team on through the afternoon final.
While the girls' victory over Oviedo proved straightforward, the Ponte Vedra boys had to battle to the finish against St. Thomas Aquinas. While the FHSAA did not officially record saves in its box score, Polanski credited Sharks goalie Charlie Nolan with more than a dozen saves under heavy pressure.
"When stuff started to get wild," Polanski said, "I knew our boys would trust each other."
For the second time in two weeks, a Jacksonville defensive tackle is making his plans for the Football Bowl Subdivision.
University Christian defensive tackle Julius LaRosa III announced on May 11 his commitment to N.C. State. The 6-1, 280-pound LaRosa is rated as a three-star prospect in the 247Sports composite, and he also plays baseball at the school.
LaRosa recorded 59 tackles, 17 for loss, and seven sacks as a junior at UC. Through three years, he is already credited with 171 tackles (43 1/2 behind the line) with 24 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
His commitment comes just a week after Mandarin defensive lineman Kindrid Outland announced his commitment to South Florida. Northeast Florida's senior class is particularly deep at the position this year, with Columbia's Jaden McCray and Jaylen Underwood, Oakleaf's Mason Thomas and Trinity Christian's two-way lineman Adrian Williams among several prospects in the spotlight.
After more than 30 years in athletic administration across Jacksonville, Duval County Public Schools district athletic director Tammie Talley is the First Coast's latest inductee into the FHSAA Hall of Fame.
The FHSAA announced its 36th induction class this week, with eight members.
Talley has been in charge of Duval County schools since 2012, following nearly two decades as both athletic director and head volleyball coach at Paxon (1993-98) and at Mandarin (1998-2012). She also helped launch flag football for Duval County high schools, coaching Mandarin's team for 14 years.
She also received the National High School Athletic Coaches Association's athletic director of the year award in 2022, and previously served as president of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association.
Also entering the hall are former Naples softball pitcher Jean Bonnici Allender, Baker football coach Matt Brunson, former Cape Coral Mariner and University of Florida basketball guard Teddy Dupay, former Miami Beach, Dr. Krop, Flanagan and Dr. Phillips baseball coach Ray Evans, former Lincoln Memorial, FAMU and Raiders guard Henry Lawrence, Palm Beach County official Mona Osborne and Tampa Robinson flag football coach Joshua Saunders.
The FHSAA has yet to announce a date for the induction ceremonies.
Heavy rains across Northeast Florida washed out much of the FHSAA schedule for May 12 regional softball semifinals.
As of the afternoon of May 12, games postponed to May 13 include Fort Walton Beach at Baker County, 2 p.m.; Episcopal at Baldwin, 5 p.m.; Bolles at North Bay Haven, 6 p.m.; Panama City Beach Arnold at Columbia, 6 p.m.; West Florida at Paxon, 6 p.m.; Middleburg at Tallahassee Chiles, 7 p.m.; Yulee at Wakulla, 7 p.m.; Christ's Church vs. University Christian, venue and time to be determined.
It's not immediately clear whether the postponements will also back up the regional finals, which were planned for May 14. The FHSAA softball final four begins May 19 at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, located north of Orlando in Seminole County.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Brayden Harris: St. Johns Country Day pitcher passes Nolan Ryan
Continue reading...
The St. Johns Country Day pitcher achieved his 500th career strikeout in high school baseball on May 9 against Tallahassee St. John Paul II in Game 1 of the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-1A championship series, joining an exclusive club in Sunshine State history.
"It really felt like any other strikeout," the Florida State-committed senior said. "I just trust my stuff and try not to overthink it and get behind in counts."
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A strikeout machine through the past month, Harris whiffed 15 batters in that regional final, boosting his total to 511. It's a number he had targeted for a while. All-time Major League Baseball strikeout king Nolan Ryan, after all, only struck out 510 during his high school days at Alvin in Texas.
"That was really the main goal, to get 15 [to surpass Ryan]," Harris said. "And it came down to the last batter."
In Florida's history, few have attained 500. Parker's Mike Hitt fanned 584 from 1993 to 1996, striking out 11 in a state semifinal no-hitter of St. Thomas Aquinas on May 15, 1996 to achieve the state four-year record. Hitt surpassed Miami Westminster Christian's Bud Gray, with 574 K's from 1974-77, and Monsignor Pace's Alex Fernandez, who achieved 554 from 1985-88 on his way to a 10-year MLB career and a World Series championship with the 1997 Florida Marlins.
Ricky Rojas struck out 625 with Miami Northwest Christian, Miami Loyola and Miami Lakes in five seasons between 1981-85, although only 507 of those came from ninth grade to 12th. Harris, like Rojas, achieved some of his varsity strikeouts as an eighth-grader while Harris pitched at Trinity Christian.
Other Northeast Florida pitchers to approach 500 include Storm Davis (496 at University Christian, 1976-79), Eric Hurley (467 at Wolfson, 2001-04) and Bill Hemme (457 at Union County, 1974-77).
In the last two years, Harris and his strikeout arm have rocketed to new levels. In 2025, he won Florida's strikeout title last year with 149. This year, with 150, he has essentially clinched a repeat with a 28-K margin over second place. He also pitched a perfect game in the Region 1-1A opening round.
For 2026, he stands fourth on the national MaxPreps strikeout list behind only Josh Gaitan of Charlotte (Texas) with 211, Kolby Stringer of West Marion (Miss.) with 184 and Triston Felix of Monticello (Utah) with 169.
Sharks' lacrosse sweep a rarity
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Two championships. Five hours apart.
Ponte Vedra lacrosse entered exclusive territory with its FHSAA Class 2A championships for boys (in the afternoon) and girls (in the evening) on May 9, the first team in state history to win both championships in a single season.
"It's just kind of crowned all the hard work in the Ponte Vedra lacrosse programs over the last 10 to 15 years," Sharks boys coach Chris Polanski said in a remote interview with the Times-Union following the finals.
For any team ball sports, double success is a rare feat in Florida.
You must be registered for see images
The only Northeast Florida schools in FHSAA records to win boys and girls titles in the same team ball sport in one season are Ribault in basketball in 1994 (coached by Bernard Wilkes in boys hoops and Al Austin for the girls) and Nease in soccer in 2008 (with Ken Kirsch leading the boys team and current Ponte Vedra coach Dave Silverberg in charge of the girls).
Not only do Ponte Vedra's lacrosse teams train on the same field, sometimes at the same time, but Polanski said the girls squad arrived early for the deciding contest at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples to cheer the boys team on through the afternoon final.
While the girls' victory over Oviedo proved straightforward, the Ponte Vedra boys had to battle to the finish against St. Thomas Aquinas. While the FHSAA did not officially record saves in its box score, Polanski credited Sharks goalie Charlie Nolan with more than a dozen saves under heavy pressure.
"When stuff started to get wild," Polanski said, "I knew our boys would trust each other."
UC's LaRosa commits to Wolfpack
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For the second time in two weeks, a Jacksonville defensive tackle is making his plans for the Football Bowl Subdivision.
University Christian defensive tackle Julius LaRosa III announced on May 11 his commitment to N.C. State. The 6-1, 280-pound LaRosa is rated as a three-star prospect in the 247Sports composite, and he also plays baseball at the school.
LaRosa recorded 59 tackles, 17 for loss, and seven sacks as a junior at UC. Through three years, he is already credited with 171 tackles (43 1/2 behind the line) with 24 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
His commitment comes just a week after Mandarin defensive lineman Kindrid Outland announced his commitment to South Florida. Northeast Florida's senior class is particularly deep at the position this year, with Columbia's Jaden McCray and Jaylen Underwood, Oakleaf's Mason Thomas and Trinity Christian's two-way lineman Adrian Williams among several prospects in the spotlight.
Talley to enter FHSAA hall
After more than 30 years in athletic administration across Jacksonville, Duval County Public Schools district athletic director Tammie Talley is the First Coast's latest inductee into the FHSAA Hall of Fame.
The FHSAA announced its 36th induction class this week, with eight members.
Talley has been in charge of Duval County schools since 2012, following nearly two decades as both athletic director and head volleyball coach at Paxon (1993-98) and at Mandarin (1998-2012). She also helped launch flag football for Duval County high schools, coaching Mandarin's team for 14 years.
She also received the National High School Athletic Coaches Association's athletic director of the year award in 2022, and previously served as president of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association.
Also entering the hall are former Naples softball pitcher Jean Bonnici Allender, Baker football coach Matt Brunson, former Cape Coral Mariner and University of Florida basketball guard Teddy Dupay, former Miami Beach, Dr. Krop, Flanagan and Dr. Phillips baseball coach Ray Evans, former Lincoln Memorial, FAMU and Raiders guard Henry Lawrence, Palm Beach County official Mona Osborne and Tampa Robinson flag football coach Joshua Saunders.
The FHSAA has yet to announce a date for the induction ceremonies.
Soggy skies soak softball
Heavy rains across Northeast Florida washed out much of the FHSAA schedule for May 12 regional softball semifinals.
As of the afternoon of May 12, games postponed to May 13 include Fort Walton Beach at Baker County, 2 p.m.; Episcopal at Baldwin, 5 p.m.; Bolles at North Bay Haven, 6 p.m.; Panama City Beach Arnold at Columbia, 6 p.m.; West Florida at Paxon, 6 p.m.; Middleburg at Tallahassee Chiles, 7 p.m.; Yulee at Wakulla, 7 p.m.; Christ's Church vs. University Christian, venue and time to be determined.
It's not immediately clear whether the postponements will also back up the regional finals, which were planned for May 14. The FHSAA softball final four begins May 19 at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, located north of Orlando in Seminole County.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Brayden Harris: St. Johns Country Day pitcher passes Nolan Ryan
Continue reading...
