Prep roundup (April 9): Bozeman performs well at district track meet

SAND HILLS - Bozeman produced three boys and two girls district champions and sent a number of athletes to the region meet which will be held April 18 at Maclay.

Kasey Franks was a double winner in the girls shot put and discus and joined by district champion Britney Keiper in the 300 hurdles.

For the Bucks' boys, Ryan Unger won the discus, Brett Shumate the triple jump and Matt Bowers the 110-meter hurdles.

Bozeman's girls placed third as a team behind champion Wewahitchka, and the boys were fourth, Wewa also winning the boys division.

Bozeman region qualifiers, by event:
(Girls) 4x800: 4. Heather Bowers, Elizabeth Pate, Taelor Stoltzfus, Jennifer Sanders; discus: 1. Kasey Franks 79-0, shot put: 1. Franks 31-11¾, triple jump: 2. Sarah Gay, 3. Jessica Walsh, high jump: 2. Sarah Gay, 4. Jessica Walsh, pole vault: 3. Kineca Carson, 100 hurdles: 2. Stephanie Pfeffer, 3. Carson, 4x100: 4. Keiper, Carson, Stoltzfus, Kathy Ha, 300 hurdles: 1. Keiper 52.9, 2. Ha, 3200: 4. Bowers, 4x400: 4. Ha, Sanders, Pate, Keiper. (Boys) 4x800: 3. 11:13, Jeremy Newsom, Mackenzie Gates, Joshua Marrs, Christian Dillahey, discus: 1. Ryan Unger, 110-0, 4. Jordan Papa 92-10, shot put: 3. Unger 35-6, long jump: 2. Brett Shumate 19-1, triple jump: 1. Shumate 38-9, 110 hurdles: 1. Matt Bowers 17.3, 100 meters: 2. Shumate 11.39, 300 hurdles: 2. Bowers 46.3, 3. Ryan McGinnis 47.84, 3200: 4. David McKee 14:03, 4x400: 4. 4:28.75 McGinnis, Kris Gutierrez, Christian Flowers, Newsom.

Baseball
Merritt Island 2, Rutherford 1
OCALA
Rutherford couldn't capitalize on a solid outing by Michael Harrington as Merritt Island (16-5) scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a win in the Ocala Big Sun Classic.

The Rams, 15-6, managed only two hits but one of them came when they scored their run to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the seventh. With one out, Josh Jonas reached on an error and JB Smith followed with a single.
Stetson Rich walked to load the bases and Jonas scored on a fielder's choice when Brian Oglesby hit into a force at second.

Harrington entered the bottom of the seventh with a three-hitter, but two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. The next pitch bounced away from catcher Smith and his throw to Harrington covering the plate was a split-second late.

Tyler Helms had Rutherford's other hit leading off the sixth inning.

Rutherford hosts Tallahassee Chiles on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in a makeup game. If the Rams win they are the second seed in the District 2-5A tournament. If they lose they are fourth seed and will be in the district play-in game.

Bozeman 4, Lecanto 1
LECANTO
Will Humphreys had an RBI single in the first inning to set the tone and improved to 5-0 with the win. Paul Myers entered the game in the fifth and finished up on the mound for Bozeman.

Trey Register had a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring and Mark Christensen doubled for the Bucks (19-1), who play The Villages today at Citrus High School.

Late Wednesday
Baseball
Altha 15, Cottondale 2
ALTHA
Tony Golden pitched a two-hitter and had a grand slam to lead Altha (18-5, 6-2 District 2-2A).

Golden went 2 for 3 with four RBIs, Josh McIntosh went 4 for 4 with a double, three runs scored and two stolen bases, Noah Byler went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs and Gary Chew went 2 for 3 with a double and a stolen base for Altha.

Altha faces Holmes County on April 14 at 6 p.m.

Softball
Blountstown 13, Malone 3
BLOUNTSTOWN
Cheri Hires was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Blountstown in its regular-season finale. Lindsey Doyal and Selina Williams had a double and two RBIs each. Brittany Griffin had nine strikeouts in improving to 5-1.

Blountstown (18-7) next plays in the District 2-2A tournament as the No. 2 seed against third-seeded Sneads at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Altha.

Chipley 12, PDL 0
PONCE DE LEON
Skylar Davis allowed five hits in five innings and fanned four to improve to 8-2 as Chipley won by the run rule. Jessica Bush had a single, double, scored two runs and knocked one in; Davis had a double, three runs scored and RBI; Rachael Fowler had a single, home run and three RBIs, Katelyn Davidson was 2 for 2 with three RBIs, Kristen Garney 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Hannah Geuttler and Vanessa Hatcher each had a hit, two runs and one RBI.

Chipley plays its final regular-season game 6 p.m. today in Vernon.