May 8, 2025
Umatilla High Baseball Eye State Semifinals In Decisive Game 3 Against Hernando High
By Kyle Coppola
Umatilla High Baseball Eye State Semifinals In Decisive Game 3 Against Hernando High
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — The stakes couldn’t be higher for Umatilla High School baseball as the Bulldogs travel to Hernando High School this evening for a win-or-go-home Game 3 in the FHSAA Class 3A Regional Finals.
The winner punches its ticket to the Class 3A State Semifinals in Fort Myers. The loser’s season ends on the spot.
For Umatilla (19-15), this is familiar territory — and that may work in their favor. The Bulldogs have already thrived in two straight Game 3 scenarios, first taking down Nature Coast Tech in the Regional Quarterfinals before stunning No. 1 seed South Sumter in the Semifinals.
(Each time Umatilla have had their backs against the wall they have delivered this postseason. Can they do it one more time and reach the State Semifinals?)
Now, with one more do-or-die challenge in front of them, Umatilla will look to keep the magic alive.
Senior Tate Bagwell has been red-hot at the plate this postseason, consistently delivering key hits, while fellow standout Wyatt Strawbridge has played the role of hero — not only contributing offensively but keeping Umatilla’s season alive with dominant performances on the mound over the last three weeks.
Gavin Touchton, Keegan St. Amant, Nick Sande, and Aidan Ross have also stepped up big for the Bulldogs, bringing consistent energy and execution during the playoff stretch.
(Keegan St. Amant has had a great postseason. Umatilla will give it everything they have tonight.)
“This group is resilient,” head coach Tanner Clark said. “They’ve bought into the idea that every game could be our last — and they’ve responded by playing their best baseball of the year.”
Tonight’s matchup marks the final on-campus game for both teams this season, adding an extra layer of urgency and emotion to an already intense showdown. For Umatilla, it’s one last shot at glory — one more chance to defy expectations and earn a place among Florida’s baseball elite in Fort Myers. Umatilla comes in as the #5 seed with Hernando as the #7 seed. This Hernando team has likewise defied all expectations. Both teams were built for three-game-series situations. It’s tough that one team’s season will end tonight but either way, we are proud of both sides for upsetting literally everyone to earn this shot.
First pitch is scheduled for 7pm, with a trip to Fort Myers — and a shot at a state championship — on the line. Go Bulldogs!!
Good luck to the Bulldogs.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
