George Jenkins moves 1 game from state with big win over Lakeland in regional semis

LAKELAND — The George Jenkins baseball team was built around pitching and defense heading into the season, but the Eagles showed their lineup can be very dangerous, too.

Jenkins built a six-run lead before their 2-3-4 hitters got a hit, but by the time the game was done, every Eagle had at least one hit in their 11-3 victory over Lakeland on Friday night in the Class 6A, Region 2 semifinals.

George Jenkins (19-8) advanced to the regional finals and will play host to Viera at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Against Lakeland, the Eagles finished with 10 hits and scored in four of six innings.

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“As a team, we're putting the ball to the bat, we're doing a job together as a group,” Jenkins center fielder Amani Cozza said. “This game we started slow in the beginning, but then we got a few hits here and there and then in that sixth inning, we just unloaded on them.”

Cozza led the way by getting on base three times in four at-bats with a pair of hits, including a double, and walk. He raised his average to a team-leading .375.

“He’s an absolute sparkplug,” Jenkins coach said. “He's incredibly talented and not only those hits, but when he threw that kid out at home plate, I think that was a game changer. He threw out the runner from center field. He's a heck of a ball player. He's only a junior. We're lucky to have him for this year, but next year as well.”

Jenkins also did the little things as well as getting timely hits. With two runners on in the second inning, Easton Nunez put down a perfect bunt that led to the first two runs be scored. Nunez scored on Cam Wilson’s single.

Later in the game with Austin Dadey breaking for second, Nunez hit in the hole  between first and second that opened when the second basemen went to cover the bag, allowing Daddy to go from first to third.

Wilfredo Ortiz capped the scoring with a two-run double for the Eagles’ only other extra-base hit.

“Our guys battle, and they have high on-base percentage,” Jenkins coach Alex Angulo said. “We work our lineup to make sure we have guys who can play the small ball when we need to and really cater our lineup one through nine. Those guys can work good at-bats and play small ball when needed and can drive the baseball when they need. So it's not a conventional lineup, but it works for us.”

George Jenkins also capitalized on Lakeland miscues as two errors, including the error on the bunt, allowed four runs to score.

The Eagles also got their typical solid pitching and defense. Dadey didn’t dominate Lakeland as he did in his shutout victory in the district championship game, but he battled for 4 2/3 innings before turning it over to Justin Williams who pitched 2 1/3 no-hit innings and struck out four.

“I think our pitching staff is really good this year,” Cozza said. “We don't even have to worry. We go out on defense, they hit the ball, we just make plays these simple.”

Lakeland’s only big hit was Jose Garcia’s two-run double in the third inning that briefly kept Lakeland in the game.

“Austin throws a lot of strikes and keeps guys off balance,” Angulo said. “Now, we knew Lakeland had seen him in the district championship game, so we knew that we were kind of playing with fire a little bit. We were just really judging when we want to go to Justin. Justin has been one of our top relievers out of the bullpen. He comes in and throws a lot of strikes. He just throws a heavy fastball that kids struggle with, and once he got over his nerves and started settling in, we saw the Justin that we've had all season.”

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: George Jenkins beats Lakeland for 2nd time to reach regional finals