LCS falls to Berkeley Prep in regional baseball semifinals
Lakeland Christian found the wrong day to have its worst pitching performance as four pitchers combined to allow 15 hits in a 14-8 loss to Tampa Berkeley Prep on Tuesday night in the Class 3A, Region 2 baseball semifinals at Berkeley Prep in Tampa.
The Vikings, the 2019 Class 3A state champions, concluded their 2021 season at 26-2.
“When you lose it hurts,” Lakeland Christian head coach Matt Diaz said. “However tonight, we just got beat. Their offensive approach was really good. They fouled off plenty of good pitches, and really hit the ball well so often. One of their coaches even told me, that tonight was their best offensive night by far this season.”
LCS pitching was not up to its 2021 typical standard. Entering the game with a team ERA under 2.00, the Vikings were able to get just one inning each from Joey Willis and Mack Estrada as each pitcher allowed four runs. Nate Shane allowed six runs in the fourth inning, before Sawyer Toney produced two shutout innings to end the game.
The Vikings unexpectedly found themselves down 8-3 after two innings but tried to rally.
Brody Donay slammed a two-run homer in the third inning. He then ripped a two-run single in the fourth inning, driving in Reese Collins and Jake Fox, who had reached base with back-to-back singles, to cut Berkeley Prep's lead to one run, 8-7.
However, Berkeley Prep (24-4) answered six runs on two doubles and three singles in the bottom of the fourth inning to build an insurmountable 14-7 lead.
LCS managed just one more run when Collins drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Bryce Benton in the fifth inning.
The Vikings had more chances to come back. They loaded the bases in the sixth inning and had two runners on base in the seventh, but they came up empty in both innings.
Gunnett Carlson led the Buccaneers offensive barrage with five RBIs. James Hankerson collected two hits, scored three times and knocked in one run as Berkeley Prep finished with 15 hits.
LCS finished with 14 hits. Donay went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Jake Fox went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Reese Collins and Parker each had a pair of hits.
The Vikings will be hit hard by graduation, losing 11 seniors, 10 of whom are moving forward to play college baseball.
“I hope this game will not take anything away from what this senior class has meant to LCS baseball,” Diaz said. They have made a huge accomplishment for LCS. They have been and certainly are a special group.”