Gators’ extra-inning edge of Plant gives Baisley 700th career win

Land O’Lakes senior Jose Leger is mobbed by his teammates after his groundball in the eighth inning forced a rushed play and allowed the Gators to score the deciding run against Plant in the Class 6A-Region 3 quarterfinals.

By Mike Camunas, Creative Director

LAND O’ LAKES — As far as milestones go, Calvin Baisley brushed this one off, just as quickly as he did a potential Gatorade bath on Friday night.

It’s 700 career wins. It took 42 years, with wins that included his three sons and his oldest grandson. And even more players that were successful at the college and professional level. He even saw a fellow coach, and close personal friend, surpass him, enter hall of fames after winning state titles, all to just continue to fish and golf with the former.

Gators baseball coach Calvin Baisley, in his 42nd season, picked up his 700th career win with a 7-6 extra-inning victory over Plant in the Class 6A regional tournament on April 24.

But Baisley shrugged his shoulders and celebrated something bigger — as this season’s mission isn’t done.

The Gators, their players and parents and fans and the rest did celebrate Baisley’s milestone, but the reason everyone rushed the field was because Land O’ Lakes, the No. 3 seed in the Class 6A-Region 3 tournament walked off Plant 7-6 in extra innings.

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The win secured the Gators with a 2-of-3 best of series with East Lake starting May 1.

Baisley, working the third base line like a guard pacing back and forth, was more concerned with getting his 21-5 team to the next round, especially after being a region finalist in 2023.

Junior first baseman Jordan Scott celebrates at home plate after bashing a dead center, 2-run homer in the top of the first in the Gators 7-6 extra-inning win over Plant in the Class 6A quarterfinal round.

By the way — 700 wins in 42 years — Baisley has never been to the baseball state tournament.

“I mean,” Baisley said, “I’ve been here a long time. Long time. I never thought I’d see 700 wins. … It’s important to me. I mean, I put a lot of time here, and, you know, I’ve been blessed with good players and I put a lot of work out here on this field. It’s something I’m proud of and something these kids are proud of. We want people to look at this (program) and go, I want to go here.

“And be proud to play for this team.”

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Thanks to a Dominic Figueroa gamble, sprinting home from third after a Jose Leger grounder was met without a clean throw to the plate, the Gators were able to edge out the Panthers in eight innings. A jubilant celebration ensued, especially since Land O’ Lakes saw Plant (14-13) erase an early 6-0 lead the Gators built behind homers from Ethan Barclay and Jordan Scott.

Gators junior catcher Brody Marks enters the field to start Friday’s Class 6A-Region 3 quarterfinal.

“It was really stressful,” said junior catcher Brody Marks, who also went 3-for-4 in the game. “This is the farthest I’ve ever been in the playoffs since I was freshmen, so there was stress. … It doesn’t matter (their) record. The legacy (of Plant baseball) says it all. It was gonna be a tough game. They’re real good, but it was a great game.”
For Land O’ Lakes, it was a great game from the start.

Gators senior Ethan Barclay lets his dugout hear it as he heads to the plate after his second-inning, two-run homer.

Scott smashed a homer to dead center, scoring Micah Palmer, in the first, while Barclay homered the very next inning. The Gators felt good about the lead, but also knew, like the Panthers, that the visiting team could keep it close.

“They swing the bat,” Baisley said. “From top to bottom, there’s not an easy out. They’re not going to make it easy. Whatever they are, higher or lower seed, Plant’s gonna score.”

Plant coach Dennis Braun agreed seeding made no difference.

“How can we underestimate them?” Braun asked. “We’re the six seed, they’re the three seed. Doesn’t matter where they’re from, they can play. I think we had some chances there, and we had our hitters come up, and we just couldn’t get some guys in … we threw our two top guys.”

Plant senior starting pitcher Nick Townley

Plant started Nick Townley, but he only lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, while Coy Keller pitched the rest of the game and struck out eight and walked three.

Land O’Lakes senior Nick Schwartz pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) and had three strikeouts.

Land O’ Lakes started its ace, Nick Schwartz (7-2, 1.23 ERA), and he got through 4 ⅓ innings with six hits and three strikeouts, but had to give way to Christian Vollstedt, who would have one rough inning that yielded two more runs after Schwartz allowed four. Leave it to Grayson Hendrix to pitch two-hit 2 ⅔ innings and pick up the win. Additionally, Donovan Barrios had an unassisted double play at third in the sixth to keep the game tied.

Plant sophomore Gio Benitez was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

The Panthers were able to keep pace thanks to shortstop Gio Benitez, who drove home three on two hits, while Rhett Dixson, Jordan Olivia and Will Meade drove in the other three runs.

“I think we did a great job tonight,” Braun said, “once we kind of got (in a 6-0 hole) and started punching back a little bit. We got to 6-6 and didn’t take our chances.”

Land O’ Lakes junior Dominic Figueroa slides in head first to third base. Figueroa scored twice in the Gators win – including the deciding run.

But, at the end of the game, Baisley was able to, albeit briefly, enjoy the milestone with his team. They presented him with a banner, which they all signed.

He got acknowledgement from a coaching colleague, John Crumbley — the former Jesuit, Steinbrenner and hall of fame coach, who is his close friend, from way back when the two met at Pine View Middle in the 1980s.

Ironically, back in 2023, Crumbley won his 800th career win at Land O’ Lakes, facing Baisley.

“What an awesome milestone for Bais!” Crumbley said in a text message to 813Preps. “His dedication and longevity at one school and to decades of Land O’ Lakes student athletes makes this accomplishment even greater! A true friend and competitor for many years!”

Plant senior Coy Keller allowed two runs (one earned) across 5 2/3 innings of relief, while striking out eight.

Marks agreed.

“Everyone knows Coach Baisley,” he said. “To see (the) 700(th) win like that and in a playoff win, I mean, that’s pretty cool. That was the coolest thing. I didn’t think we were going to be able to give him that sign until next year, so to get it, that feels great.”

Even Baisley couldn’t brush off celebrating that milestone with his current players.

“That (win in the playoffs) was enjoyable,” Baisley said. “Obviously, glad to have it. Obviously, glad to move on in the playoffs. East Lake we’ve seen a few times in the fall, so we’ll see.”

“Oh, and I won’t reach 800,” he added, laughing. “That’s John (Crumbley), but I don’t have that much time left (coaching, laughs).”

⚾ Class 6A – Region 3 ⚾

Land O’Lakes 7
Plant 6 – eight innings

P 002|022|00 – |6|10|3
L 240|000|01 – |7|11|3
W – Hendrix (2-0); L – Keller (6-2)
2B – DeCamp, Benitez, Meade (P); Marks 2 (L); HR – Scott, Barclay (L). Records – P (14-13); L (21-5).