Gators outlast Sickles on marathon day for first state tourney berth

Land O’Lakes senior Yonder Alvarez steps on the plate as his teammates explodes onto the field as the run ended Saturday’s Class 6A-Region 3 finale, sealing a 7-6, 10-inning region championship and booking the Gators a first-ever trip to the FHSAA state final four.

By Mike Camunas, Creative Director

LAND O’ LAKES — All it took was more than 700 wins.

And more than 40 years with the same coach.

And then, in the end, it also took 17 grueling, tight-rope innings. But the Land O’ Lakes Gators baseball program finally got there.

The players, and its legendary coach, finally punched a ticket to the state tournament, with every player, their fans and the like celebrating to be headed to Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on May 15 for the baseball team’s first-ever state appearance in the final four.

In a very long Saturday afternoon, Land O’ Lakes outlasted Sickles in Game 3 in the Class 6A-Region 3 Final series, with the Gators topping the Gryphons 7-6 in the 10th inning, after about six hours of baseball.

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“I’m speechless,” said seasoned Gators coach Calvin Baisley, in his 42nd season at the helm and having just picked up his 700th career win in the region quarterfinal on April 24. “This was, however, one of the top three baseball games (I’ve ever coached). … Despite the fact that it sends us to state, but the game itself, and the way it was played, the plays that were made, the hits that we got, that they got, the way we responded, the way they responded, the back and forth.

“Seventeen innings was a lot for one day.”

Click here to view our 100-photo gallery from Saturday’s two region final games

Game 2, which began just a few minutes before 1 p.m., lasted about 2 1/2 hours before a 40-minute break to the start of Game 3, that not only saw the Gators (25-7) snatch a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth, but then blow said lead in the seventh that send it to three extra innings.

Gators senior Jose Leger is greeted at the plate by teammate Ethan Barclay (#10) after he started the home-10th with a solo home run.

In the top of the 10th, Sickles’ Sean Kloehn would reach on an error by Yonder Alvarez (more on him in a bit), allowing Zack Dial to score from third, and Sickles (22-10) would take a one-run lead.

Sickles senior Zack Dial (right) celebrates scoring in the top of the 10th, giving the Gryphons a momentary lead.

With Ryan Carvajal on the mound in his third inning of relief, all Gators second baseman Jose Leger needed to see was two pitches before crushing a homer over the centerfield wall to re-tie the game and explode the Gators dugout.

Sickles junior RHP Ryan Carvajal

Up next, Carvajal would get two big outs on two big bats — getting Ethan Barclay and Brody Marks, who hit a three-run homer in Game 1, to fly out.

That would bring up Alvarez — a backup who was inserted defensively after first baseman Jordan Scott injured his ankle trying to beat out a grounder in the eighth. It was redemption time, especially after his teammates picked him up following the error.

Gators C Brody Marks runs down Sickles’ Lee Melamut between the plate and third base.

Alvarez would bang a double off the left field wall.

“Without a doubt (we did that), but we had (hitters) 1-4 coming up,” Marks said. “Any error is going to be frustrating, but then (Alvarez) comes and hits the wall (with a double) and then, what error?”

Land O’Lakes longtime assistant coach Larry Beets wraps up Christian Vollstedt in a hug after the senior drove in a pair of runs with a single in the sixth.

Christian Vollstedt, who had been having a great region final series, going 6-for-14 with 5 RBI, was intentionally walked, as was freshman third baseman Donovan Barrios after getting up 2-1 in the count. Alvarez and Vollstedt advanced to third and second, respectively, after a wild pitch.

That would give Cam Koston — already 6-for-12 with 2 RBI in the series — a chance to play hero with the bases loaded.

“I was just looking for a fast ball — anything I could hit to get the run in,” the junior designated hitter said. “I wanted to get us out of here — I wanted to get us to the state tournament.”

Gators DH Cam Koston batted .500 in the three-game region final series.

All Koston needed was one pitch to lace a single to left field, bringing home Alvarez easily and sending the Gators to the Class 6A state tournament for the first time.

“Words can’t describe it,” an out-of-breath, jersey-nearly-ripped-off Koston said following a dogpile celebration with teammates and rowdy fan section. “I don’t have them. We’ve worked hard this whole season to get here. Even today we started a little slow and we lost (Game 2). After that (in Game 3), we were rolling. There was no stopping us. We wanted it and we knew what we were coming for.”

“It was a team effort, I’d say,” said Vollstedt, whose chin was bloodied during the celebration, “with everyone doing their part to win this battle for nine innings — or was it 10? It was definitely interesting.”

Sickles sophomore Lee Melamut drove in two runs in each game on Saturday.

Interesting, to say the least.

After a 12-2 mercy-rule win in Game 1 on Friday, Land O’ Lakes, as the “visitor” in Game 2, jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead thanks, in part, to that Marks homer. However, with Vollstedt getting the start, Sickles came storming back with a five-run second and a three-run fifth that broke a 6-6 tie.

In that game, Gryphons sophomore third baseman Lee Melamut drove in two, including the go-ahead runs, while Dial and Charlie Martz each drove in an RBI.

Gryphons senior Charlie Martz scores one of his five runs in the weekend three-game series.

Jake Taylor got the start, after being held from Game 1, and lasted four innings (82 pitches), but would give up 6 runs on 6 hits with 6 walks and three strikeouts.

It was side-arm slinging Ben Durda, in 2 ⅔ innings of shutout, two-hit relief, that kept the Gators from getting back in the game.

Gryphons senior RHP Ben Durda

In Game 3, Land O’ Lakes and Sickles literally traded runs throughout the game, with teams combining for 27 hits, only 3 strikeouts, while the Gryphons would draw 7 walks.

Gators senior Grayson Hendrix would throw five innings of relief (giving up two runs on three hits), while Durda would throw another 4 ⅔ innings of relief, giving up six hits after freshman Chase Twiss gave up three runs on six hits as the starter.

Land O’Lakes senior lefty Grayson Hendrix pitched five innings in Game 3 on Saturday.

But in the end, the Gators prevailed — to the emotional end of the Gryphons surprising run to the region final. A young team that overperformed throughout the season, including seven games of scoring double digits, with an early four-game stretch where the team 17, 24, 18 and 10 runs consecutively.

The eight seniors, including Taylor, Martz, Dial, catcher Emilio Salgado and even Durda, were consoled by coach Eric Luksis and teammates with a senior send off, many in tears.

Luksis didn’t have much to offer after the game.

“We had them, so I feel for the guys,” he said before sharing a long emotional hug with Durda.

As for the Gators, they will now prepare to head to Ft. Myers for an historic milestone in program history. The players, parents and fans will be making the trip for the first time. For the coach who manages on the home field that bears his name, it won’t be the first time he’s been to the state tournament.

Gators junior Brody Marks (at left with yellow batting glove) jumps into his teammates after his Game 2 home run.

But it will be the first time he’ll be coaching there.

“It’s pretty nuts,” Marks said. “It’s surreal, even. We’re spring break champs, we’re conference champs, we’re district champs and now we’re regional champs for the first time. I think we all want to get that first (state) win for (Coach Baisley).”

And Baisley might play it off, keeping a calm demeanor while talking about coaching in the state tournament finally. He’s managed hundreds of players who went on to the collegiate level and a dozen or so more who went on to play professionally.

After 42 seasons and 700-plus wins, Land O’Lakes head coach Calvin Baisley will lead his team to its first state final four.

The hard work, with clarity, finally brought on the emotions.

“I’m happy for (my players), I’m happy for the coaches,” Baisley said, pausing to reflect on 42 years of hard work. “Of course it means a lot. It’s why we do what we do out here. To get down there.”

⚾ Class 6A-Region 3 Final – Game 2 ⚾

Sickles 9
Land O’Lakes 6

L 311|100|0 – |6|8|8
S 050|130|x – |9|6|1
W – Durda; L – Jones (3-2)
2B – Koston, Vollstedt, Harris (L); Taylor (S); HR – Marks (L). Records – L (24-7); S (22-9).

⚾ Class 6A-Region 3 Final – Game 3 ⚾

Land O’Lakes 7
Sickles 6 – 10 innings

S 100|200|200|1 – |6|9|2
L 010|202|000|2 – |7|17|3
W – Mabry (2-0); L – Carvajal
2B – Salgado, Taylor (S); Vollstedt, Alvarez (L); HR – Leger (L). Records – S (22-10); L (25-7).