Lakeland's magical run falls short in title game

NAMPA - Lakeland made a name for itself as the underdog in the 4A state baseball tournament.

The Hawks weren't supposed to beat Jerome in the opening round, yet they rallied for a one-run win. They were dead and buried against Skyview in the semifinals before erupting for 20 hits and 16 runs in another come-from-behind effort.

It was no wonder coach Jason Bradbury and his players believed until the final out of Saturday's 4-1 championship game loss to Twin Falls that the magic was going to pay them one final visit.

"It wouldn't be us if we didn't come from behind. We kept telling the kids, and they believed until the end that we were going to get them," Bradbury said. "You've got to tip your hat to Twin Falls. They were the better team today."

It was Lakeland's first appearance in the championship game since moving up to 4A. The Hawks last played in the title game in 1997, when they won the second of back-to-back state A-2 (3A) crowns.

Lakeland started Kris Jackson on the mound, and he did his part to keep the Hawks in the game. He scattered seven hits in six innings, allowing three earned runs.

But in the end, Twin Falls' one-two pitching punch of Chandler Greenfield and Kaleb Jones was just too good, combining to allow just four baserunners and an unearned run while striking out nine.

Jackson's double was one of the few hard-hit balls Lakeland mustered against the Twin Falls juniors, who always seemed a step ahead of a team they knew was capable of coming back on them.

"Lakeland's a good club that's doing some good things," said Twin Falls coach Tim Stadelmeir. "We scouted them (Friday night) and we knew they were a team that had a lot of fight. They're scary; every time they hit something against Skyview it seemed like it was on the barrel (of the bat). We have a lot of respect for them."

Twin Falls got a single run in the first inning on a Greenfield single, then plated two more in the second inning. That would prove to be enough offense as the small-ball Bruins executed their game plan with ruthless precision.

After the game, while the Bruins mugged for the cameras with the championship trophy in tow, crestfallen Lakeland players hugged each other with tears in their eyes, coaches both consoling them and urging them to recognize how far, and not just how close, they came.

"Not many thought we'd be here - but of course we did," Bradbury said. "But if you had told me before the season we'd finish in second place, I would have taken it every day and twice on Sunday. We've got a young team ... hopefully we see these guys again next year."

Lakeland 000 100 0 - 1 2 1

Twin Falls 120 010 x - 4 7 1

Kris Jackson and Logan Bruner; Chandler Greenfield, Kaleb Jones (5) and Braden Stutzman. W - Greenfield. L - Jackson.

HITS: LL - Wrotenbery, Jackson. TF - Jones, Greenfield, Root 2, Brann, Doyle. 2B - Jackson.