OAKLEAF – Day two of the Tournament of Champions provided lots of drama and fireworks for everyone with several climatic games.
When everything was settled Gainesville held off Lake Wales 1-0 in the fist semifinal and Oakleaf pounded Trinity 11-3 in the second semifinal to set up the title game match on Saturday.
Oakleaf 11, Trinity 3
The addition of junior center fielder Jaeda McFarland has been a huge blessing.
The transfer from Lansing, Kansas has been tearing the cover off the ball since making the move to Oakleaf.
Case in point Saturday night, McFarland was 2-3 with two homeruns and 3 RBI in the win over Trinity.
Senior pitcher Madi Davis struggled at times against the potent Trinity lineup getting into several jams but was able to get out of it nearly every time to keep Trinity off the scoreboard.
Trinity loaded the bases in the first as Regan Griffis singled to left, MacKenzie Marell doubled to left and Amaya Ross walked all with one out. However, David struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
McFarland led off the game with a solo home run to left center to give Oakleaf an early 1-0 lead.
Jasmine Lumug led off the second with a single down third and sister Caitlynne Lamug walked putting runners on first and second. Madi Davis laid down a sac bunt that was bobbled by third baseman Morgan McMillian allowing Jasmine to score.
Junior catcher Jadrianna Serrano delivered a 2 RBI double to right center increasing the lead to 4-0 still in the second.
In the third, Griffis singled to left and Marell singled to left to put runners on first and second with no outs. Yet, Davis got out of it again with a strikeout and two fly outs.
In the fourth, Bailey Cooley singled to left, McMillan singled to center, Breezy Burnett laid down a bunt to move the runners to second and third and Ross walked to load the bases.
Griffis grounded to Davis, who threw a strike home to Seranno forcing Cooley out at home for the second out. Marell lined a 2 RBI to left center scoring McMillan and Ross to cut the lead to 4-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth.
In the bottom of the inning, Oakleaf loaded the bases as Davis lined a single up the middle, McFarland walked and Kaylee Lambrecht singled to left; yet Cooley got out of the jam with a strikeout and a fielders choice.
In the fifth, Oakleaf broke it open scoring four runs on just two hits as Aspen Windensheim doubled down the line and scored on Davis sac fly to center and Serrano singled down the third base line scoring Caitlynne Lamug.
With Serrano standing on first, McFarland put it way with her second home run to deep right center field to make it 8-2.
The Knights added to their lead in the sixth as Jaycie Brookshire doubled to right and Baylee Goddard doubled down the line to score Brookshire. Windensheim followed with a RBI single to left scoring Goddard and Windensheim scored on a Caitlynne Lamug grounder to first.
Heading to the seventh, down 11-2 Trinity had now dug themselves into a deep hole.
Yet they wouldn’t go away as Amaya Ross led off getting hit by Davis, Linzie LaFavor doubled to right center putting runners on second and third with no outs.
Davis retired the next two batters on popups but walked Riley Aspenwall to load the bases. Burnett was hit by a pitch allowing Ross to score cutting the lead to 11-3.
However, Davis closed it out inducing a grounder to second to pick up the win and send the Knights to the title game.
McFarland, who tied a career high with her second home run on the night and is a Louisiana Tech commit, spoke to us following the game.
“They (Louisiana Tech) started noticing me between my freshman and sophomore year and I committed to them January of my sophomore year,” McFarland stated.
“It’s been exciting being here so far, we practice really hard and I’m just glad I’m able to make an impact here, its fun to watch us play. We all make each other better, if I don’t hit, I know the next one will come through.”
“The first home run looked like a pop up and the second one I thought had a chance but I thought it might hit the fence,” McFarland stated about her record tying day.”
Gainesville 1, Lake Wales 0
Despite having two runners thrown out at home including one in the top of the sixth inning, Gainesville survived an intense 1-0 battle with Lake Wales in the first semifinal Saturday.
In the top of the seventh, with two outs, a single past short allowed the Hurricanes to take the 1-0 lead.
Clay 3, West Nassau 0
Clay jumped on West Nassau early with a three-run first inning and held on for a 3-0 win.
Lake Wales 3, West Orange 2
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Lake Wales rallied for an incredible walk off win in Game 4 of the tournament.
With the based loaded, Melkayla Irvis lined a RBI single to right field sparking the come from behind win for the Highlanders.
Gainesville 5, Keystone Heights 0
Junior pitcher Alyssa Humphrey pitched a complete game shutout in Game 3 of the tournament Saturday morning. Humphrey, a Jacksonville University commit, struck out eight to pick up the win.
