2026 FHSAA 6A Playoff Predictions
April 22, 2026
The 6A field is loaded from top to bottom, and the path to Fort Myers is going to require every team in this bracket to earn it. We've broken down every region and mapped out our predictions from the first round through the state championship. Here's how we see the 6A bracket playing out.
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Region 1
#1 Pace vs. #8 Lake Howell Pace comes in as the top seed in the region and has been one of the steadiest programs in North Florida all season. Lake Howell is a quality program, but the gap here is real. Pace takes care of business at home and advances.
#4 Tate vs. #5 Tocoi Creek This is one of the better first-round matchups on this side of the bracket. Tocoi Creek has been one of the more quietly dangerous teams in the region all year, and they pull off the mild upset here. Tocoi Creek advances.
Regional Semifinal Pick: Pace over Tocoi Creek Pace's experience and overall depth of roster prove to be too much for Tocoi Creek to handle in a second consecutive road environment. The Patriots move on.
#2 Buchholz vs. #7 Mandarin Buchholz has been one of the most consistent programs in North Florida and enters the postseason with the résumé to back up their seed. Mandarin doesn't have enough to hang with them in a short series. Buchholz rolls.
#3 Bartram Trail vs. #6 Oakleaf Bartram Trail is the more complete team here and handles Oakleaf. The Bears advance.
Regional Semifinal Pick: Buchholz over Bartram Trail A solid North Florida matchup between two programs that have earned their spots. Buchholz's pitching depth gives them the edge when it matters, and the Bobcats advance to the regional final.
Regional Final: Pace over Buchholz Both programs have legitimate postseason pedigree and the talent to make a deep run. Pace's overall body of work and the home environment give them just enough of an edge to get through. The Patriots punch their ticket to the state semifinal.
Region 2
#1 Bloomingdale vs. #8 Durant Bloomingdale is the top seed on this side for a reason. Durant is a game opponent and a strong rival but Bloomingdale wins in our opinion.
#4 Viera vs. #5 Martin County Viera gets the edge here based on their overall consistency and pitching depth. Martin County will compete, but Viera advances.
Regional Semifinal Pick: Bloomingdale over Viera The Bulls are operating at a different level than anyone else on this side of the bracket and advance.
#2 Lake Minneola vs. #7 Dwyer Lake Minneola has put together a strong season and has too much across the board for Dwyer to handle. Lake Minneola advances.
#3 Melbourne vs. #6 Horizon Melbourne has been one of the better teams when the games matter most. Horizon is solid, but Melbourne handles this one and moves on.
Regional Semifinal Pick: Melbourne over Lake Minneola Melbourne's postseason experience and pitching give them the edge in what should be a competitive game. The Bulldogs advance to the regional final.
Regional Final: Bloomingdale over Melbourne Bloomingdale has been the best team on this side of the bracket from start to finish, and that doesn't change here. Melbourne will make them work for it, but the Bulls' overall depth and talent prove to be too much. Bloomingdale advances to the state semifinal.
Region 3
#1 Gaither vs. #8 Parrish Community Gaither is the top seed and has the roster to back it up. Parrish Community hasn't shown the ability to compete with a program at this level. Gaither wins.
#4 Palmetto vs. #5 Sickles Palmetto gets the edge here. They've been the more consistent team and their pitching lines up well. Palmetto advances.
Regional Semifinal Pick: Gaither over Palmetto Gaither is ahead of anyone else on this side of the bracket. They advance to the regional final.
#2 East Lake vs. #7 Wharton East Lake has been one of the better teams in the Tampa Bay area all season. The Eagles move on.
#3 Land O' Lakes vs. #6 Plant Land O' Lakes has the deeper résumé and handles Plant in what should be a competitive affair. Land O' Lakes advances.
Regional Semifinal Pick: East Lake over Land O' Lakes East Lake's overall quality and experience give them the edge in what figures to be the best game on this side of the bracket. The Eagles advance to the regional final.
Regional Final: Gaither over East Lake Gaither is the class of the region, and they prove it here. East Lake has the talent to make this a series, but Gaither's overall depth and the way they've competed against quality opposition all season tips the scales. Gaither advances to the state semifinal.
Region 4
#1 St. Thomas Aquinas vs. #8 Ida Baker St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the premier programs in Florida and a legitimate state title contender. Ida Baker doesn't have enough to stay in this ballgame. STA wins.
#4 Braddock vs. #5 West Boca Raton Braddock gets the edge in a competitive South Florida first-round matchup. They've been the more consistent team all year and advance.
Regional Semifinal Pick: St. Thomas Aquinas over Braddock The Raiders look every bit like the South's best team and advance.
#2 Doral Academy vs. #7 Flanagan Doral Academy has been one of the most consistent programs in South Florida all season and handles Flanagan. Doral advances.
#3 Southridge vs. #6 Coral Springs Southridge has the deeper résumé and more consistent track record against quality competition. They handle Coral Springs and move on.
Regional Semifinal Pick: Southridge over Doral Academy Southridge pulls off the upset in what figures to be one of the better series. The Spartans' pitching holds up when it matters most, and they advance to the regional final.
Regional Final: St. Thomas Aquinas over Southridge St. Thomas Aquinas is the class of the region, and they make that clear here. Southridge has the talent to compete in stretches, but STA's program pedigree and postseason experience prove to be the difference. The Raiders advance to the state semifinal.
State Semifinals
Bloomingdale vs. Pace Two of the best programs in their regions meet with a trip to the state championship on the line. Pace got here by handling quality competition, but Bloomingdale has been the most complete team in the region all season. The Bulls' depth, pitching, and lineup balance prove to be the difference. Bloomingdale advances to the state final.
St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Gaither STA is the significant favorite here, and for good reason. They've handled everything thrown at them all season, and Gaither, as good as they are, hasn't faced a program with the firepower that the Raiders bring to the table. St. Thomas Aquinas advances to the state championship.
State Championship Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas over Bloomingdale
The Raiders have been the best team in the South all season and arrive at the state championship as the most complete program in the 6A field. Their lineup can beat you in multiple ways, their pitching staff is deep enough to handle a short-rest tournament format, and they've been in this moment before. Program pedigree matters at the state level, and Aquinas has more of it than anyone else in this bracket.
Bloomingdale is a worthy opponent and has earned every step of this run, but St. Thomas Aquinas is built for this stage.
St. Thomas Aquinas wins the 2026 FHSAA 6A State Championship.
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