South Walton baseball wins FHSAA 3A state title on walk-off suicide squeeze

Great teams find ways to win big games.

That was the case for South Walton High in the FHSAA 3A state baseball championship game on Thursday, May 14. The Seahawks pulled off the state championship win on a suicide squeeze to score the winning run and pull off the walk-off win.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Hudson Quinn came to the plate with the bases juiced and just one out. Instead of swinging away for the win, Quinn laid down the perfect bunt between the pitcher and third basemen, with Declan Fowler barrelling down from third base.

Fowler scored on the play, giving South Walton a 6-5 win over North Broward Prep for the first state championship in program history for the Seahawks.

The win was a relief for a team that had lost in the state title game in back-to-back years. The Seahawks almost felt the dismay of another loss, as they blew a 5-2 lead at the top of the seventh inning.

Fowler reached first on a hit by pitch, followed by singles from Carter Hawk and Jace Cunningham to load the bases with one out. As Fowler scored the game-winning run, teammates reminded  Quinn to touch first base before he disappeared into the mob of celebrating teammates.

The Seahawks concluded the season with a 30-4 record and the elusive 3A state title.