The Lakeland Hawks Baseball team is still working through some early-season challenges, as they dropped both games to the Lewiston Bengals on March 15th.
The first game ended with a 6-2 loss, while the second was a narrow 4-3 defeat.
Despite the tough results, there were several standout performances that showed promise for the rest of the season.
“The defense was impeccable the second game,” Dreyden Smith said, “The outfield did not drop a single catchable ball. Jace Taylors pitching was un-hittable and when it got hit the defense was there to back him up.”
Tadgh Ellwood continues to impress in his final season.
Ellwood took the mound for four innings in the first game, striking out six batters. While he gave up one earned run and two unearned runs.
His performance on the mound was solid, but his contributions didn’t end there. Ellwood did his job at the plate, going a perfect two for two, showcasing his all-around ability.
Another key player was Taylor, who had a remarkable outing in the second game. Taylor threw six innings, where he allowed only two hits and, crucially, no earned runs. He struck out seven batters.
Taylor also helped the offense, going two for three at the plate.
Despite these individual accomplishments, the Hawks weren’t able to secure a win, but they can take pride in the performances of players like Ellwood and Taylor.
With continued growth and some adjustments, they can certainly turn things around.
“We need to get our bats going and going up to the plate with an approach and not just going up there to swing,” Smith said, “We also need to do the small things right as a team.”
Looking ahead, Lakeland will play against Lake City at 2:00 p.m. on March 18th.
This game presents a great opportunity for the Hawks to bounce back and put their skills to the test against another strong opponent.
It’s early in the season, and while these losses are disappointing. The key for the Hawks will be to keep pushing forward, maintain focus, and stay confident in their abilities.
With strong leadership and talent like Ellwood and Taylor leading the way, the team has the potential to turn things around and start finding success.
