Lady Mustangs slide into states

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The Lakewood Ranch High softball team is on a journey.

It began nearly five months ago, when the Lady Mustangs walked onto the field for their first official practice of the 2012 season and will culminate this week at the National Training Center in Clermont — the site of the Class 6A state finals.

The Lady Mustangs have made several stops along the way, including returning home to win their third consecutive district championship April 20, and their first-ever regional championship — a 10-0 victory over New Port Richey River Ridge in the Class 6A-Region 3 finals — May 1.

Now, Lakewood is in the final leg of its journey — one it hopes will result in the program’s first state championship.

“I don’t even know how to describe it,” senior pitcher Huntyre Elling said. “I’ve always wanted to go to states. I knew we could do it. I don’t think it’s even completely set in to me yet that we’re going, and it (probably won’t) until next week when we’re going up and playing.”

Teammate Taylor Newton agreed.

“It feels pretty great,” Newton said. “I’m pumped and ready to win. It would mean everything (to win a state title). I’m really competitive and it would be nice to represent Lakewood Ranch High School with a softball state win.”

The Lady Mustangs nearly reached the state semifinals in 2010, but a 5-0 loss to eventual state runner-up Naples ended Lakewood’s season. Elling and Newton both were on the team then, making this year’s trip to the Final Four even more enjoyable.

Lakewood was loaded with talent then and has continually produced top-notch talent in the couple of years ever since; but there’s something to be said for this year’s team. They are different. They are special. They all get along. They communicate on the field.

And most importantly, they know how to win as a team.

“I thought it from the beginning,” Lakewood coach Tony Cummins said. “This is a special group — a really special group. I have more faith in those girls than probably any other team I’ve coached. It’s been a phenomenal experience.”

Prior to the regional championship game, the players gather together for a team meeting and had dinner while watching “Rudy.”

“We had faith,” Elling said. “We were pumped up. We had motivational stuff the entire time after school.”

The Lady Mustangs came out pumped up and ready to go. Lakewood’s momentum carried out onto the field as the Lady Mustangs posted their eighth shutout of the season. Elling earned her 20th win on the mound, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out seven in five innings of work.

Lakewood scored 10 runs on 10 hits and didn’t strike out at the plate for the sixth time this season. The Lady Mustangs held an 8-0 lead after two innings, but Elling continued to pitch as if the scoreboard said otherwise.

“It makes me pumped up and so excited, but on the mound, I have to pretend its 0-0 still,” Elling said. “I can’t lighten up or anything.”

As regional champions, the Lady Mustangs traveled to Clermont to face Pembroke Pines in the Class 6A state semifinals May 9. The winner will face the winner of the other state semifinal between Niceville and Eau Gallie.

“We are super excited,” Cummins said. “They are not only great kids, but there is as fine of softball talent in that dugout as I believe you’ll find anywhere.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].