Mustangs rally falls short in state semifinals

The Lakewood Ranch High baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before ultimately falling to Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy 6-4 in the Class 6A state semifinals May 17 at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

Trailing 6-1, Lakewood began its rally when pitcher Seth McGarry hit a two-run double. Justin Greenaway reached on an error and Brandon King and Bryan Vanvranken drew walks to bring in McGarry. Tyler Dauphinee, who his a three-run double to help secure the victory for the Mustangs in the regional finals, hit a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

The Mavericks scored five runs in the top of the second inning on three hits and four walks to jump out to an early 5-0 lead.

The Mustangs responded in the bottom of the inning on a single by Dauphinee and a RBI double by Brad Zunica. Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy scored its final run in the fourth inning.

The Mustangs lose 12 seniors from this year’s squad, which captured the program’s first district and regional championships since 2003.

For a complete story on Lakewood’s state semifinal appearance and a wrap up of the 2012 season pick up the May 24 issue of the East County Observer.