Regional softball: Smith, Conroy lead Lake Wales over Vanguard in 4A-2 quarterfinals
LAKE WALES — Lake Wales took some blows this season, some expected, some not, in a season where its ultimate goal was to return to the state tournament and finish.
The Highlanders, however, never took their eye of their goal and persevered through the ups and downs of the season. They are now two games from the final four following their 6-1 victory over Ocala Vanguard on Wednesday night in the Class 4A, Region 2 quarterfinals.
Lake Wales hosted the game despite being district runner-up as the result of having a strength of schedule that was the most difficult in the state among all classifications. Head coach Mike Settle knew going into the season that because of that schedule, the record might not be the prettiest. That was the expected blow as Lake Wales improved to 17-11. The unexpected blow was losing first-team, all-county pitcher Macey Murphy to injury, which thrust Anna Conroy into a bigger role this season and added to the degree of difficult for the season.
None of that has diminished the players' state of mind.
More: Regional softball: Lakeland Christian routs Lakeside Christian to advance to semifinals
More: Regional baseball: Lakewood Ranch ends Winter Haven's season
"We're super excited," senior Presley Smith said. "We've started to come together a little bit more. We're starting to put things into place, progressing our strengths and working our weaknesses too. We feel really good."
The offense should feel really good as Lake Wales has a dangerous lineup. Smith, the No. 3 batter, went 2 for 3 with two RBIs against Vanguard as the top three players in the lineup, Zamya McBurrows and Keira Davis being in front of her, combined to go 6 for 10 with three RBIs and three runs scored. And with No. 9 bater Keira Morris going 2 for 3, the Highlanders had four batter in a row with two hits apiece.
Lake Wales finished with 10 hits, including four extra-base hits. Morris, McBurrows and Davis had doubles, and Hannah Battles ripped a triple.
In the first inning, Smith singled home Davis and Lydia Denton, who had walked, scored on an error to stake Conroy with an early two-run lead. Smith's single in the third made it 3-0, and Davis had an RBI double in the fourth.
The Highlanders also scored with small ball as Lilah Denton executed a squeeze bunt to drive in Battles.
"We have to change out approach at the plate a little bit but overall, we had some nice hits tonight," Lake Wales coach Mike Settles said. "Lilah's squeeze was huge. Right now we want to win and advance."
Those were all the runs Conroy needed. The sophomore pitcher went through some growing pains during the season but has gotten stronger as the season progressed. The players have a lot of confidence as the postseason is under way.
"I definitely thing so, and I think it's a lot of reps," Smith said. "We lost our starter, Macey, from last year but both of our pitchers Anna and Kirsten (McRae) have really stepped up. It took them a little bit to into the swing, having that many innings, that many pitches, but I think having those reps, trusting the defense and us backing her up with the hitting, I think she (Anna) had become a lot more comfortable. She's been doing a great job."
Against Vanguard, she allowed five hits, walked three and struck out three. She pitched out of a couple of jams, remaining poised and not allowing a run until the sixth inning when she had a six-run lead. The run came on hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one outs, but Conroy then recorded two routine fly balls to McRae in left.
"Anna threw well," Settles said. "She's been battling for us lately and has thrown the ball pretty well the last six games. We played good defense tonight."
Lake Wales made the defensive plays behind Conroy. Denton and Smith turned double plays by picking off the runner on first after snaring line drives. And in the first inning, they caught a Vanguard runner in a rundown between third and home and recorded the out.
Lake Wales will play at Eustis on Tuesday.
Lake Region 9, Citrus 2
Lake Region piled up 15 hits and defeated Citrus to advance to the regional semifinals on Tuesday. The Thunder will play host to Orlando Bishop Moore on Tuesday.
Despite the seven-run margin of victory, the game was close for 3 1/2 innings as Lake Region took a one-run lead, 3-2, into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Thunder then scored three runs in back-to-back innings to pull away.
Margaret Jenkins led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple and scored on Gabby Willis' single. Makenna Meadows followed with a double.
Kirsten Aldridge then singled home Willis and Meadows scored on an error on the play to put Lake Region up 6-2.
Jenkins finished 4 for 4 with two run scored. Willis went 2 for 2 with two RBIs, and Meadows was 1 for 2 with two RBIs.
USF-signee Alex Wright, who missed the season with an injury, returned to action and went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Meadows pitched a two-hitter and allowed just two unearned runs and struck out 13.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Regional softball: Smith, Conroy lead Lake Wales over Vanguard
