Postseason Promise

BRADEN RIVER — For the past four months, the Lakewood Ranch High softball team has been gearing up for this moment: the postseason.

It’s the time when championship hopes come alive.

Lakewood secured a spot in the postseason with a decisive 9-1 victory against Sarasota in the Class 7A-District 10 semifinals. The win not only landed the Lady Mustangs a spot in the district championship against rival Braden River, but it also ensured them another berth in the regional tournament.

“It’s a mentality — an idea that we express that we play the regular season to get ready for the postseason,” Lakewood coach Tony Cummins says.

With their seeding decided by a coin flip, Lakewood traveled to Braden River for the Class 7A-District 10 championship April 17. It was the first time since 2011 the teams faced one another for the district crown.

Lakewood scored runs in both the second and third innings, which proved to be the difference as the Lady Mustangs held on to beat Braden River 2-1. With the win, Lakewood captured its fifth-consecutive district championship.

“It’s very exciting,” Lakewood second baseman Maddie Biggs says. “We were really pumped for this game, and it showed. We knew that Braden River has a lot of good players and we just needed to stay focused the whole game. I think (our) focus really helped us win that game.”

“We have a far greater expectation than just district championships,” Cummins says. “We will go back to work. We will continue to build. We will continue to push for our next game.”

Lakewood played 15 one-run games during a regular season that featured several top-notch opponents. Those experiences helped prepare the Lady Mustangs to withstand the pressure associated with the postseason.

“We play the best teams in the state,” Cummins says. “When we get to this spot, we’re used to it. We’ve battled the best and we don’t get uptight or upset. And our pitchers certainly reflected that.”

Lakewood pitchers Amanda Rak and Logan Newton held the Lady Pirates to one run on eight hits and three walks.

Braden River, whose starting lineup features five freshmen and two sophomores, had its share of chances, but, after scoring a run on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Pirates failed to scratch the tying run across the plate.

“The caliber of ball we’re playing is where we want to be,” Braden River coach Erin Spivey says. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re right where we need to be in the playoffs.”

Lakewood and Braden River both will advance to the regional quarterfinals April 24. Lakewood will be home against Clearwater Countryside, while Braden River will travel to Tarpon Springs East Lake.

If both East County squads win, the two will meet again in the regional semifinals April 29. The last time the teams met in the regional semifinals, Braden River edged past then-district champion Lakewood en route to a berth in the Final Four — a scenario Spivey reminded her players of following their district championship loss.

“I’ll gladly give up a district championship and go to the state tournament, so that’s what we’re going for,” Spivey says.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]