Eyes on final four: Softball regional final previews, Northeast Florida

The Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs continue with regional finals Friday night across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. All game times are as listed by the FHSAA, but are subject to change.

REGION 1-3A

Episcopal (25-3) at Baldwin (28-1), 7 p.m. Friday

A game that's been anticipated for months. Episcopal's Grace Jones is not only dominating the circle (25-3, 0.60 ERA, 335 K) but also leading the offense (.606, 10 HR, 45 runs) along with sophomores Riley Valent (.387, 3 HR) and Claire Cinnamond (.372, 5 2B). Baldwin, meanwhile, is deadly from top to bottom, beginning with Amiyah Jones (.469, 6 2B, 5 3B, state-best 53 runs) and continuing with Kendall North (.461, 13 2B, 37 RBI), Cali Hartung (.378, 10 HR, 46 RBI) and beyond. Baldwin's Shaylen Byrd pitched a two-hitter in a 2-1, eight-inning district victory on May 2. The winner advances to Tuesday's state semifinal at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont, with the opponent to be determined based on the FHSAA's ranking formula.

Soaring in softball:Episcopal and Baldwin win close contests, Baker County rolls

REGION 1-2A

Providence (11-12) at University Christian (17-7), 7 p.m. Friday

State champion last year, UC is going for the return trip. They've won the last three meetings with Providence, including a 10-0 shutout in the district tournament, and Kate Dell'Alba is coming off a two-homer, six-RBI performance on Tuesday. Senior pitcher Sophia Kardatzke, in her final home game, is well above 100 extra-base hits for her UC career. Providence's Elle Burns and Summer Stearns are also red-hot at the plate, excelling in Tuesday's win over Countryside Christian. The winner plays a state semifinal in Clermont on Tuesday at a time to be determined.