Region baseball quarterfinals
7 p.m. unless noted
Wiregrass Ranch (17-9) at Countryside (17-10), Thursday
Winner gets: Steinbrenner/Seminole in Tuesday’s Class 7A region semifinal
Skinny: The Bulls are in the playoffs for the first time in program history. Star pitcher and hitter Zach Drury (team-best 20 RBIs, 1.71 ERA) will try to lead Wiregrass past a Countryside team making its second playoff appearance in a decade.
Gainesville (9-18) at Springstead (16-8), Wednesday
Winner gets: Ocala Lake Weir/Citrus Inverness in Tuesday’s 6A region semifinal
Skinny: Springstead and Oral Roberts signee Brandon Brosher (four home runs, .415 average) face a Hurricanes team that went 4-5 in April. A victory would give the Eagles their first playoff win.
Sebring (10-17) at Mitchell (22-5), Wednesday
Winner gets: Land O’Lakes/Winter Haven in Tuesday’s 6A region semifinal
Skinny: The Mustangs have one of the North Suncoast’s hottest hitters in Marcus Begg (22-game hitting streak, seven homers) and top pitchers in FSU commit Cobi Johnson (1.90 ERA, 89 strikeouts). Keep an eye on Eddie Goscicki, who has batted in seven runs in the past six games.
Land O’Lakes (21-6) at Winter Haven (23-4), Wednesday
Winner gets: Sebring/Mitchell in Tuesday’s 6A region semifinal
Skinny: The Gators dominated as Pasco County’s top team before slipping down the stretch, losing to Mitchell in the district title game and running into a program with two state title game appearances since 2004. Land O’Lakes’ Josh Nissen, Dylan Harris and Zachary Whitaker will try to lead their team to its first playoff victory in 13 years.
Eustis (21-8) at Pasco (20-8), Thursday
Winner gets: Hernando/Wesley Chapel winner in Tuesday’s 5A region semifinal
Skinny: The Pirates are in the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years but haven’t won a postseason game since 2008. Pasco senior Blaine Duncan has had one of the county’s best seasons (1.10 ERA, 95 strikeouts) but will face a big test. Eustis catcher Chris Okey is a Clemson commit and one of MLB.com’s top 50 prospects for the June amateur draft. He leads the Panthers with a .417 average and four home runs.
Wesley Chapel (19-8) at Hernando (22-5), Thursday
Winner gets: Pasco/Eustis winner in Tuesday’s 5A region semifinal
Skinny: With UF commit Christian Arroyo (eight home runs), Jake Johnson (16 RBIs) and company, Hernando has tools on offense that will be tested by Wildcats pitcher Chase Ingram (0.93 ERA, 109 strikeouts).