Winning is the norm for the Pace baseball team. And the Patriots hope to keep that trend rolling this year.
They certainly have the experience and talent to do it, especially with five of its players already committed to a college.
Jay baseball standout Grayson Shehan signed with Johnson University in November to continue his baseball career.
And he’s in a good place as the Tennessee-based school is known for success on the field. The Royals won 24 games last year and are off to a 7-2 start this season.
Pace’s softball team won a 6A state championship a season ago. The Patriots will look a little different this year, losing two of the nation’s best players to graduation, but the drive to win again is still strong.
Jay’s softball team has a reputation for being one of the top programs in the area and that isn’t expected to change this season.
Sure, the Royals lost some talented players to graduation, including Ella Nelson and Brett Watson, but the cupboard isn’t bare.
Before going into the locker room, Presley Hawthorne stood on the court for a moment and watched through her tear-filled eyes as Holmes County’s celebration unfolded a few feet away.
For 32 minutes on a Tuesday night in mid-February, Hawthorne and her Jay teammates poured their heart and soul, and every ounce of effort they had, into being the team that was celebrating at the end of this Rural Region 1 championship game.
Milton’s boys basketball team looks to keep its Region 1-6A tournament run going today when it takes on Tocoi Creek tonight in a Sweet 16 matchup on the road.
In an arena that was beginning to empty late Saturday night, Pace’s girls weightlifting team savored the thrill of being crowned FHSAA 3A state champions once again.
The smiles on the faces of the lifters were wide. The tears of joy streamed down their cheeks. The photos they took with the trophies captured this moment forever.
Area 1A and 3A girls weightlifting teams are set to compete in their respective state meets Saturday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Pace goes into it as the reigning two-time state champion in Olympic and traditional in 3A. Navarre and Milton are expected to have strong showings at state as well. Central, Crestview and Baker have lifters competing in the 1A meet.
The Jay Royals hosted Paxton Thursday night in a showdown to determine who would advance to the Rural Region 1 final.
The Royals would not be denied, breezing past the Bobcats for a 59-45 victory.
