Gators nab first-ever region final win over Sickles

Land O’Lakes junior Jordan Scott made a tag at the plate on Sickles Charlie Martz, holding the Gryphons to just one run in the fifth inning, before the Gators would score three in the home-half and force an early end to Game 1 of the Class 6A-Region 3 Final series. Land O’Lakes scored in four-of-five innings, getting a 12-2 mercy-rule win – a first-ever region final game win in program history.

By Mike Camunas, Creative Director

LAND O’ LAKES — It seems funny to even say it.

For a program, and coach, with more than 700 wins, Land O’ Lakes’ baseball team — finally — has a region final win.

Thanks to a 12-2 five-inning, mercy-rule win over Sickles in Game 1 of the Class 6A-Region 3 final on Friday night, the Gators can now make that claim.

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“I mean,” said longtime coach Calvin Baisley, “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to get (to states), but at the end of the day, I want it for these guys that have come a long, long way. I want it more for these guys because baseball is baseball to me, and don’t get me wrong, it’s very exciting.

“Maybe (I) didn’t see it coming, but the job’s not done.”

Senior Jose Leger heads toward the plate scoring the first of his two runs in the game.

Of course, if Baisley, and the Gators (24-6), were having this postgame conversation a few years ago, they’d already be booking buses, hotels and other accommodations to play at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on May 15. But, alas, with the move to a best-of-three format, Land O’ Lakes will need one more victory over the Gryphons (21-9).

Click here to view our full photo gallery from this game.

Game 2 is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the field that dons Baisley’s name.

“We have got to prepare for 14 innings of baseball,” Sickles coach Eric Luksis said. “Our backs are against the wall, and we’ll see what team shows up tomorrow, but, you know, we’re giving the ball to (senior ace Jake) Taylor, and we feel good about that. So, if we can just get a Game 3, I think we have a really good shot (at winning the series).”

Sickles senior RHP Ayden Rivera

As for Game 1, the Gators jumped on senior starter Ayden Rivera, a “gamble” by Sickles and Luksis to hold Taylor for Game 2 or 3. Rivera would last just 2 ⅓ innings, allowing five runs on six hits, including a quick 3-0 lead by Land O’ Lakes in the first inning. Relief behind him didn’t fare much better, with Peter Tsikouris, Micah Flores and Drew Humphrey combining to give up seven more hits and runs, with Flores picking up the lone strikeout on Gators batters.

Gators senior Nick Schwartz struck out seven, allowing two unearned runs and earned his ninth win of the year.

Land O’ Lakes, without hesitation, gave the ball to its ace, Nick Schwartz (9-2, 1.03 ERA), who held the Gryphons to just two hits and struck out seven on 77 pitches.

“(It’s nice to) only pitch five innings,” said Schwartz, who now has 103 Ks this season. “I wasn’t really feeling any (jitters or nerves), so I just (was) calm out there. I just (went out to) pitch like I normally do and I know I got all of them (my defense) behind me.”

Land O’Lakes freshman Donovan Barrios drove in three runs in the win.

Both senior Christian Vollstedt — who will make the Game 2 start for the Gators — and freshman Donovan Barrios — an early-season JV call up — drove in three runs, while first baseman Jordan Scott drove in two and Cam Kosten and Dominic Figueroa each batted in a run. Scott also scored three times, and Jose Leger, Ethan Barclay and Vollstedt each scored twice.

Gryphons senior Charlie Martz scored a run in the third inning.

Additionally, in the first, leftfielder Evan Harris made a great catch while colliding into the outfield wall — a play that fired up the dugout and the nearby student section.

“That’s the first play of the game by Evan and it’s an amazing play,” Schwartz said. “I don’t know if that set the tone, but it was a great play by him. We’re a great group of guys and we have a great connection and, really, I can’t ask for more.”

Gators leftfielder Evan Harris thumps his chest after making a catch at the wall in the first inning.

As aforementioned, Sickles will hand the ball to Taylor (5-3, 2.96, 46K), while Vollstedt (5-2, 1.88, 46K) will head to the bump for Land O’ Lakes.

Schwartz knows his fellow pitcher can get it done on the mound.

“(Christian) gets a lot of outs — he’s a real contact guy, big contact guy,” he added, referring to how in the district championship vs. Wharton on April 16 Vollstedt shoved for 6 innings of two-hit shutout ball all while punching out seven. “So, he’s pretty, pretty big on the strikeouts, too, so I trust him. We all trust him. I think he’s going to be great.”

Sickles senior centerfielder Jake Taylor makes a catch.

Baisley agreed, especially now, as he mentioned before, the team has come a long way — like starting the season 4-3 — only to then win 10-straight, plus pick up impressive wins over Hillsborough County teams — like a 7-6 extra-inning, walk-off win over perennial-powerhouse Plant in the regional quarterfinals on April 24.

“It’s been fun to watch because we struggled for a long time,” Baisley said. “And, through that struggling, we made it. We brought up (Barrios) at third base as a freshman, and that kind of solidified our defense completely. And he’s been a big contributor offensively (15 RBI on 19 hits), and we just kind of took off from there. Our pitching’s been good all year, so we’re in a lot of games, but we’re not out of any games.”

⚾ Class 6A-Region 3 Final – Gm 1 ⚾

Land O’Lakes 12
Sickles 2 – five innings

S 001|01x|x – |2|2|1
L 302|43x|x – |12|13|2
W – Schwartz (9-2); L – Rivera
2B – Martz (S); Barclay 2, Leger 2, Marks, Vollstedt (L). Records – S (21-9); L (24-6).

⚾