Skylar Young made an emphatic statement to open the postseason, and it’s only the beginning of what she hopes will be another deep playoff run.
The North Florida Christian standout delivered a dominant two-way performance Tuesday, smashing a grand slam and throwing a three-inning no-hitter to lead the Eagles to a 15-0, run-rule win over Harvest Community in the Class 1A regional opener.
“I would love to go to state again and do even better,” Young said.
Young finished 2-for-3 with six RBIs, with her grand slam helping break the game open. In the circle, she struck out five and didn’t allow a hit.
“All of it is great, but the grand slam with two outs — it was just a great feeling seeing my teammates at the plate,” Young said.
The outing is part of a standout season for Young, who has emerged as one of the Big Bend’s most complete players. She leads the Eagles in nearly every offensive category, batting .513 with 39 hits, 42 RBIs and five home runs — including two grand slams in consecutive weeks.
In the circle, she carries a 19-5 record with a 1.22 ERA, the lowest in the area, along with 175 strikeouts and four no-hitters.
Whether in the batter’s box or in the circle, Young says she embraces both roles equally.
“I love both,” she said. “I love pitching because I love being involved in every play, but I also love hitting because I work really hard at it.”
Skylar Young’s growth as a ‘complete player’
For coach Dennis Gorham, Young’s production is no surprise. He has watched her growth since she first reached varsity as a sixth grader.
“She is just a tireless worker,” Gorham said. “She had a goal to be on varsity, and when she got here in the sixth grade, she got a taste of it, and she has been a varsity starter all the way through.”
Beyond the numbers, Gorham points to Young’s composure as one of her biggest strengths. Whether she dominates or faces adversity, her mindset never wavers.
“She is unshakable,” Gorham said. “If she gives up a hit in a key spot, she’s not going to hang her head. She’s going to go after the next inning.”
Young, who has signed with Georgia Southwestern State, has steadily improved each year, something her coach says is reflected in all aspects of her game.
“Her defense as a pitcher has gotten better every year. Her hitting has gotten better every year, and her pitching has gotten better every year,” Gorham said. “She’s been a complete player.”
North Florida Christian has high confidence in returning to state
The Eagles enter the regional round with momentum, riding a seven-game winning streak after claiming the district title and regional victory.
Now the focus is on finishing what they started.
“I think the team is in great spirits,” Young said. “We’re all in good moods and ready to work hard.”
As a No. 2 seed, North Florida Christian believes it has what it takes to return to the state semifinals — and potentially go further. With a senior-heavy roster and consistent pitching, Gorham sees a team built for a title run.
“When you have Skylar and the four other seniors, we’re in every game,” he said. “We haven’t given up many runs, and our mentality is that every game is new. The game before does not matter.”
For Young and the Eagles, that mindset — and performances like Tuesday’s — could be the formula for another trip to state, and perhaps something more.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: NFC’s playoff run centers around Skylar Young, its ‘complete player’
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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