Middleton, Fla. — Nate Budill went the distance on the mound and Joe Killpatrick had three hits at the plate in a 5-1 win over Crystal River on Tuesday in Middleton, lifting The Villages High School baseball team back to the district championship. 

Budill scattered six hits and allowed just one run in seven innings for the Buffalo (16-10 overall), who advanced to the Class 4A-District 5 Tournament title game on Thursday against North Marion — a rematch of last year's district finale — at VHS. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. 

Daniel Bitting contributed a pair of hits and Anthony Kradzinski had a two-run triple in the win. 


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.