Bishop Kenny Wins Fourth Consecutive District Championship

The 2024 District 4A-3 champion Bishop Kenny Crusaders. *Photo from @BishopKennyHighSchool.

The Bishop Kenny baseball team is a storied and accomplished program, which includes two state championships. Thursday night the Crusaders added another big chapter to the tale of this incredible run the program is on, as they earned a 9-1 win over the Yulee Hornets in the District 4A-3 finale to win their fourth straight district title.

After their run to the state Final last season assured that no opponent would dare overlook them and instead they got everybody’s best effort, The Crusaders (19-8) responded to the challenge all season. The team maintained the high standard it has set for itself, and once again Bishop Kenny looks plenty capable of making another run at the state Final Four. The Crusaders will host the Baker County Wildcats (16-12) in Wednesday’s Region 4A-1 quarterfinal.

The team’s many weapons were on full display in Thursday’s final, as the Crusaders got shut-down pitching from starter Andrew McWilliams and reliever Cole Dennis, and the offense clubbed out 12 hits to put up their nine runs. McWilliams earned the win, striking out eight in four innings of work, while allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks. Cole Dennis followed with three clean innings, with six total strikeouts, and he also had three RBI to contribute at the plate.

Several batters all had multiple hits, led by Franco Chaluja, who was 3-for-4 with a double. Joshmar Carbonell went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Owen Delaney and Michael Saunders were both 2-for-4. McWilliams was also 2-for-2, with a triple, an RBI and a run.

Bishop Kenny also won the district championship in 2019. If not for the pandemic that abruptly ended the 2020 season, it could be six years running.

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