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2026 FHSAA State Championships: 6A Recap

May 17, 2026
Prep Baseball Florida
Prep Baseball Florida Directors

St. Thomas Aquinas made a statement across the 2026 FHSAA Class 6A State Championship weekend, winning both of their games with a brand of pitching-first baseball that never let their opponents breathe. After dispatching Land O’ Lakes on Friday behind Julian Diaz’s masterful complete game, the Raiders returned Saturday at to dismantle Buchholz 5-1 and claim the state title.

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Semifinal: Buchholz 3, Martin County 2 (9 innings)

The semifinal Friday morning was a pitchers’ duel that stretched nine innings before Buchholz walked it off, 3-2, over Martin County. Dion Wilburn was magnificent for Buchholz, throwing seven innings and allowing just one earned run on seven hits while punching out seven. Cohen Lafler came on in relief and worked the final two frames without giving up a run, earning the win when Zac Brown lifted a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth.

Buchholz drew first blood in the second when Angel Irizarry doubled down the left-field line and Tyler Thurmond followed with an RBI single to right. Martin County tied it in the third on a John Thornton IV single to right that scored a run. Irizarry went 2-for-4 with a double to lead Buchholz offensively, while Blake Brewer added two hits of his own.

Martin County had their chances but couldn’t push the decisive run across. Brennan Jones was outstanding at the plate for the Tigers, going 4-for-4, and Zane Moody matched Wilburn pitch-for-pitch over seven strong innings.

Semifinal: St. Thomas Aquinas 4, Land O’ Lakes 1

Julian Diaz was the difference Friday afternoon, throwing a complete game to carry St. Thomas Aquinas past Land O’ Lakes, 4-1. Diaz went all seven innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits while striking out five and walking two on 88 pitches. His ability to keep Land O’ Lakes off-balance and induce soft contact proved decisive in a game that featured two quality pitching efforts.

St. Thomas Aquinas grabbed the lead right away in the first inning. Jake Carruthers reached and came around to score on a fielder’s choice, and Hayden Robinson followed with a two-run double to push the advantage to 3-0. Robinson finished 1-for-3 with two RBI, and Brady Buxbaum added a double and an RBI.

Land O’ Lakes starter Nick Schwartz turned in a competitive outing, going six innings with seven strikeouts, but was let down by the scoreboard. The Gators managed three hits on the day, with Ethan Barclay going 2-for-3 to lead the offense.

State Championship: St. Thomas Aquinas 5, Buchholz 1

St. Thomas Aquinas jumped on Buchholz early, controlled the game through pitching, and pulled away late to win 5-1 and claim the 6A title. Joseph Hendren started on the mound and delivered five solid innings, surrendering just one earned run on two hits before Brady Gollan finished it off with two scoreless frames.

Buchholz got on the board first in the bottom of the third when Roen Kresak singled in a run, but St. Thomas Aquinas responded in the fourth. Mauricio Clement delivered the defining blow, a two-run single that gave the Raiders the lead for good. Clement finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. Hayden Robinson added two hits and an RBI, and Jake Carruthers went 2-for-3.

St. Thomas Aquinas tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to stretch the final margin to four. The Raiders finished with 10 hits on the day. Buchholz starter Reed Thomas labored through six-plus innings, allowing nine hits and five earned runs.

St. Thomas Aquinas are your 2026 FHSAA Class 6A State Champions.


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