District champs, Port St. Joe prepares for regionals
GULF COUNTY; Fla. (WMBB) – After winning the Rural District 4 Championship, the Port St. Joe baseball team is preparing to host its rival Franklin County in the regional quarterfinal series.
A season of transition has been embraced by the Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks baseball team, where a new identity has been shaped despite the loss of much of last year's senior class.
Only two seniors remain on the current roster, following the graduation of several key players and the departure of the team's pitching core, a period of adjustment was required. The foundation, however, stayed intact.
'We've been fortunate that what we've done in the past could be leaned on,' head coach Ashley Summerlin said. 'A lot of guys were lost, three starting pitchers and two position players. But a lot of guys have stepped up.'
Leadership responsibilities have been passed down to a new group, with junior pitcher Baylor Partie being one of the arms holding onto the success.
'It's been different,' Partie said. 'We've always been the underdogs, and I used to look up to the older guys. But now, we're the ones stepping up. Positivity is being focused on, this game is tough. Strikes just need to be thrown, and my teammates are trusted to do the rest.'
A regional series meeting with long-standing rival, Franklin County has been set, heightening the motivation to win.
'It's a big rivalry,' Partie said. 'But we just have to play our game and not let them get in our heads.'
The Tiger Sharks say they need to just play 'their game' and everything will come together.
'The best thing that can be done is to stay grounded,' Summerlin said. 'Today is about practice. Tomorrow will be about the game. If the win is earned, the next game will then be addressed.'
Port St. Joe will open its best-of-three series with Franklin County on Monday, April 28.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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