Braeden Barnes struck out six batters in his latest start, pushing his career total to 116 and eclipsing the Eustis High School record of 110 set by former Panther and current MLB starting pitcher Brady Singer who plays for the Cincinnati Reds. 

The performance helped propel the Panthers into the FHSAA Class 4A Regional Finals for the first time in 23 years. Eustis last reached this stage in 2003, the same year the program captured the state championship. The Panthers also won the title in 2000.

Braeden leads all FHSAA Class 4A pitchers in strikeouts and ranks fourth statewide. He has surrendered just 10 earned runs this season. Braeden is committed to Southern College an NCAA Division II program. 

“He’s the kind of player every coach hopes to have on their team,” Eustis head coach Tony Thomas says. “He represents everything we talk about daily as our standards, toughness, accountability, and team-first mentality. He’s not just talented on the field, he’s dependable, consistent, and brings energy that elevates the guys around him. When things get tough, Braeden doesn’t flinch; he embraces confrontation and accepts the competition.”

Braeden relies on command, pitchability and a crafty arsenal rather than elite velocity. The left-hander models his game after former MLB pitcher Mark Buehrle.

“Mark Buehrle was a lefty that didn’t throw that hard but still got his job done,” Braeden says. “That’s the kind of pitcher I model myself after.”

Braeden began playing baseball at age 6 in Illinois before his family moved to Florida. He first worked with Thomas in the Juice program, where Thomas emphasized the mental side of the game. Pitching coach Mat Latos later refined his mechanics and mindset, while current Villages High School coach Devin Anderson provided additional guidance.

One piece of advice has stuck with him through his years at Eustis: “You don’t have to be the best player to go places. Hard work will show and put you in the place to go to the next level.”

For Braeden, this senior year is not just about breaking records it’s about playing the game he loves at his very best. The road to breaking the Eustis strikeout record wasn’t easy after all. 

Just after Braeden’s freshman year he would suffer from shoulder tendinitis which sidelined him for an entire summer. Acupuncture and physical therapy became part of his routine as he worked his way back eventually working into the role as the Eustis High starting ace this season. 

“Baseball has taught me that in life you always fail, but the only thing that matters is how you handle that failure to succeed the next time,” Barnes says. 

The Panthers enter this weekend’s Regional Final series against top-seeded Bishop Moore as underdogs but have played like serious title contenders of late. Eustis will need another strong outing from Braeden and its supporting cast to advance.

Sophomore Ethan Jackson has been a force at the plate with a .322 batting average, 28 hits, 26 RBIs and 18 runs scored. Freshman Tyler Heine has made a strong impression in his debut season, while junior Peyton Woodward and senior Jabriel Rivera Carabello have delivered key offensive contributions throughout the year.

With the program’s championship history in mind, this season marks the 26th anniversary of the 2000 state title and the 23rd of the 2003 crown. The Panthers are determined to make their own mark.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ They’ll have their chance to make history Friday night when they play Bishop Moore at 7pm. They will also play game 2 at 1pm Saturday and if the series goes to 3 games there will be an additional doubleheader on Saturday evening.