First Coast Varsity Weekly: Home run streak grows for Episcopal's Grace Jones

The word is out: Pitch to Grace Jones at your own risk.

The Episcopal senior stretched her home run streak to four games entering the week, going deep against Yulee on April 12, Bartram Trail on April 16, Bishop Kenny on April 18 and Clay on April 19.

That's launched the Mercer-committed pitcher up to nine homers on the year, tied for ninth in Florida and second in Northeast Florida behind only the 12 from Middleburg junior Kerra Clarida.

But home runs are only part of the picture for Jones, who is batting .600 with six doubles and a 1.938 OPS, and continues to dominate in the circle with a 21-1 record, an 0.51 ERA and 273 strikeouts compared to only 15 walks.

Compared to last season, Episcopal has also added more offensive balance, with four more starters (Riley Applebee, Claire Cinnamond, Amelia Oreair and Riley Valent) with an OPS above .900.

With a 17-game winning streak entering the week, Episcopal has also jumped into the top five of the Florida High School Athletic Association state rankings, which could potentially mean home field advantage in the event of a regional matchup against Baldwin or West Nassau.

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Stingrays' win wraps Gateway calendar

With Atlantic Coast's 15-0 victory over Englewood in last week's baseball final, the 2023-24 Gateway Conference tournament season is officially in the books.

All-sport totals remain to be officially announced next month, but no Duval County public school brought home more trophies than Mandarin. The Mustangs placed first in bowling, boys cross country, girls cross country, volleyball, girls golf, girls weightlifting, boys soccer, boys track and girls track.

Although there's no Gateway Conference football tournament, Mandarin also advanced deepest in football, qualifying for last December's Class 4M title game in Tallahassee.

Fletcher won in boys golf, boys swimming, girls swimming and wrestling; Stanton came out on top in girls soccer, boys tennis and girls tennis; Jackson won in boys basketball; Paxon earned its first-ever girls basketball victory; Baldwin repeated in softball; and White earned its third championship in four years in flag football.

Soto steps down at Creekside soccer

A month and a half after winning a second FHSAA soccer title, Joe Soto stepped down as Creekside girls soccer coach.

Soto announced his decision in a social media post, citing the time and energy demands of coaching a championship program.

"I wish it was just showing up and coaching for 90 minutes, I love that, but there is a lot more to running a High School program," Soto said in his announcement. "If I were to continue working with this program I would only be able to do so if I could give 100% of myself to it and I am not confident I can continue to do that."

The New Jersey native and former Bartram Trail assistant led the Knights for three seasons, with a combined record of 47-10-3. The Knights finished 16-1-2 this year, with their only loss coming in extra time to Bartram Trail in the District 1-7A final.

He coached Creekside to its first-ever FHSAA Class 7A championship in 2022, winning the Florida Dairy Farmers coach of the year award, and won a second Class 7A trophy in March.

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Impact's Thompson commits to UNF

There's another local Osprey headed for the UNF Arena court next year.

Impact Christian guard Taylor Thompson announced his commitment to the University of North Florida on Friday, after leading the Lions to a second FHSAA state final four.

Thompson scored 1,081 points as a four-year starter for Impact Christian, receiving All-First Coast honors this season.

Next year's River City Rumble games are set to add an extra dash of local flavor, with Thompson headed for UNF and the All-First Coast trio of Chris Arias (Providence), Anakin Brown (Beachside) and Kent Jackson (Episcopal) all bound for Jacksonville University.

Around the area

Clay wide receiver Payton Dykas committed to Mount Union football. … Former Baldwin linebacker Larry Worth transferred to Arkansas football from Jacksonville State. … Oakleaf forward Ellie Thompson committed to USC-Aiken women's soccer. … Providence's Alexa Fallis signed with New College women's golf. … Mandarin held a signing ceremony for Jeremy Francis (Geneva), Michael Larsen (Hiram), Justin Squire (Florida A&M) and Ryan Valiante (Gardner-Webb), in football, Dylan McCleod (Florida State College at Jacksonville) in men's basketball and Sasha Maric (North Florida) in men's soccer. … St. Johns Country Day announced athletic signings for Collin Briggs (Middle Georgia State, baseball), Jack Walker (Syracuse, rowing) and Sasha Wallace (Mars Hill, weightlifting). … Bartram Trail defender Haylee Martin committed to North Alabama women's soccer. … Stanton midfielder Emma Griner signed with Rollins women's soccer. … Stanton senior John Syla surpassed the school record in the boys 800-meter run, running 1:56.20. … Former Mandarin sprinter Terren Peterson set USF's women's 4x100 track relay record alongside Zahria Allers-Liburd, Je'Niya Burton and Shaniya Benjamin. … Former Clay pitcher Richard Long was named ASUN baseball pitcher of the week at Jacksonville University. … Former Bolles wrestler Chris Bono signed a contract extension as Wisconsin head coach through May 2029. … Bishop Snyder held a dedication ceremony Wednesday for the Mike Corrigan Sr. Beach Volleyball Center. … Boys volleyball begins district tournaments next Monday.