Buchholz Baseball Holds Off Gainesville in Rivalry Thriller 

Buchholz baseball edged Gainesville 3-2 in a weather-shortened game Thursday to extend its winning streak in the rivalry to 13 games in front of a packed crowd at Tiny Talbot Field. 

The city matchup, called in the seventh inning due to lightning in the area, was intense, with strong pitching and key defensive plays keeping the teams scoreless through the first three innings.

Gainesville (5-5) made a breakthrough first in the fourth inning. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Connor Kemph delivered an RBI single to help the Hurricanes take a 1-0 lead and excite the home crowd. 

Buchholz (5-4) responded in the fifth to go up 3-1. Drew Almond walked, stole second before a Hurricanes throwing error allowed him to score and tie the game. Sterling Tetreault and Zac Brown followed with RBI singles.

GHS made it a one-run game in the bottom of that inning. Kaiden Griffith walked and scored two outs later on Ty Quinn’s grounder to second. 

Gainesville threatened to tie in the sixth when a leadoff double put a runner in scoring position. Buchholz reliever Aidan Kastensmidt recorded a strikeout before the defense secured the final out on a pop fly.

Buchholz coach Chris Malphurs credited Kastensmidt, a Jacksonville University signee.

“The selflessness of Aidan,” Malphurs said. “ He’s a guy highly decorated, has pitched for four years here and he’s always been a starter. We kind of want to use him at the end of the game, because he is so sharp and he is so good, his ball does move so much. And again, just the selflessness of him to say coach, ‘I’ll do whatever we need to do to win.’ ” 

This game also carried added meaning for Malphurs, who is in his first season as the Buchholz head coach. Earlier in his career, he spent seven years coaching at Gainesville, giving him a unique perspective on the series.

“It’s a rivalry game,” Malphurs said. “I know all about it. Normally when we play, it’s a game, it’s a war. 

 “Hats off to them. I thought they played really well. They had great energy, a great crowd tonight and they were here early and loud again. Just feel fortunate to come in here and keep our win streak alive.”

The Bobcats return to action at 7 p.m. Friday when they host Suwannee (5-6). GHS will travel to Starke to play Bradford (4-5) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Category: Buchholz High School, Gainesville High School, High School Sports