Bay Shuts Out Rutherford For 2nd Straight 3A-2 Championship

The 2026 District 3A-2 champion Bay Tornadoes. *Photo from @BayHighBaseball.

The Bay Tornadoes successfully defended their district title on Thursday night, earning their second straight District 3A-2 crown with a 7-0 shutout over the Rutherford Rams. It is the second time in program history the team has won back-to-back titles, after also accomplishing the feat in the 2017-2018 seasons.

Bay (13-10) stamped its ticket to the 2026 playoffs. The Tornadoes will play at Fernandina Beach in a 3A-1 Regional Quarterfinal on Saturday night. Fernandina Beach (21-4) claimed the District 3A-4 trophy with an 11-0 shutout over the West Nassau Warriors. Neither team allowed a run scored during its district tournament.

The Tornadoes certainly did not struggle to score during the 3A-2 tourney, combining for 34 total runs in victories over the Rams and also the Gadsden County Jaguars. The club has been streaky all season, but now carries plenty of momentum going into the regional playoffs.

*Photo from @BayHighBaseball.

A pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth snapped a scoreless tie to account for the deciding runs in Thursday’s final. Bay loaded up the bases, as Noah Clement singled, Calvin Howard walked and Alex Carbonnell was hit by a pitch. Liam Adams worked a bases-loaded, RBI walk, and then Howard also came home following a wild pitch.

The Tornadoes got the bats more involved in the action with five more runs in the fifth that put them well in front. Eliott Richter walked, and Colby Hawkins singled on a bunt back to the pitcher. Both runners advanced thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Clement, and scored off a two-RBI single to right from Howard. Brandon Holmes then drove in Howard with an RBI base hit to right, Adams followed with a single and Alex Baker next reached on an error that plated both base runners.

The offense was more than enough run support for the pitching staff. Grayson Gibson earned the win by pitching into the fifth, going four-and-two-third innings while allowing two hits and four walks and striking out four. Richter then came on and was lights out in relief, piling up six strikeouts while allowing just one walk in two-and-a-third innings.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!