High School baseball: George Jenkins wins district championship over Lakeland

Xavier Glover was wheeling and dealing in the biggest game of the year. And this wasn’t even his best game of the campaign by his standards.

He typically throws in the 80s, including a fastball, curveball, slider and a changeup. But on some occasions, he reached back and blazed some pitches past Lakeland hitters in the Class 6A, District 6 Championship game Thursday night at George Jenkins High School. He ended up striking out seven in six innings of action, including on one occasion in which he boisterously yelled, “sit down,” as he completed a strikeout before hitting the dugout to talk baseball with his teammates.

His efforts on the mound led to No 1 seed George Jenkins clinching the district championship ― the second straight year the program has done so ― thanks to a 5-4 win over No. 2 seed Lakeland. Glover as a starting pitcher is a perfect 6-0.

“I didn’t completely have my stuff. But when I got behind, I would just try and attack (with) a fastball and get them swinging, because they get themselves out,” Glover said. “…(I’m) just trying to get ahead and stay ahead and let my defense work behind me because I trust them.”

Glover also trusted his bats, as the offense came through in the bottom of the third following the starting pitcher giving up two earned runs in the first three innings. Down 3-1, George Jenkins Horiam Santiago — a three-year starter ― scorched a two-run double that brought home Kyle Patton and Richie Collazo.

Lakeland starting pitcher Cooper Emery then threw a wild pitch and Paul Sweeney scored and gave the Eagles the 4-3 lead. Wilfredo Ortiz Martinez would go on to line a single to centerfield, which brought home Santiago to put the score up to 5-3 George Jenkins.

Glover battled the next few innings, until relieving pitcher Braden Smith retired the side in the seventh, which started the George Jenkins celebration: Players immediately bombarded each other with a group hug as they jumped up and down in happiness.

Players eventually poured cold water on coach Alex Angulo, who was impressed with the district championship clincher. Lane Moore was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Armani Cozza was 2-for-3 with two doubles.

“…It’s always a great feeling to win this district because of how competitive it is year in and year out,” Angulo said after the game. “Lakeland is such a tough opponent. The utmost respect to them. It’s always a grind when we play them. So it’s really an awesome experience to come out with a victory.”

It was Lakeland that got things started in George Jenkins eventual victory, though. Lakeland’s Alejandro Rodriguez-Couvethie hit a sac fly to right field and brought home AJ Sierra in the top of the first.

The Eagles retaliated in the bottom of the second thanks to Moore RBI singling, bringing home Deshaun Salter, who lined a shot to centerfield for a double.

Lakeland scored the next two runs of the game after an RBI single from Daniel Hernandez and Laith Lineberger taking a ball four, which walked in a run with the bases loaded. The score at this point was 3-1 until George Jenkins responded.

The Dreadnaughts final run was from an RBI groundout by Nic Partridge in the top of the fifth to make it 5-4.

But No. 14 George Jenkins (21-6), of course, would go on to win and advance to regionals, which will take place next Wednesday at George Jenkins. No. 20 Lakeland (19-8) will also gear up for regionals.

4A-9: Lake Wales 2, Sebring 1

Landon Rubio singled home the winning runs in the ninth inning. Simon Scharff drove in the Highlanders' run in the ninth inning.

Gage Chandley pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits. He struck out 14.

3A-7: McKeel 17, Lake Region 7

J Quezada homered and went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. R Walker went 4 for 5 with three RBIs, and H Testerman went 3 for 5 with two RBIs.

The Wildcats led 12-0 after three innings.

For Lake Region, C Rodriguez was 4 for 4 with an RBI, and G Calcutt went 1 for 4 with an RBI.

2A-8: Lakeland Christian 17, Santa Fe Catholic 7

Lakeland Christian trailed 6-0 going Ito then scored 9 runs in the bottom of the fourth then added four runs in the each of the next two innings.

Zach Lester had the big bat. He went 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: George Jenkins wins district championship over Lakeland