The Lakeland Baseball team split with the Sandpoint Bulldogs again on April 10th.
The Hawks’ first game against Sandpoint, characterized by a challenging defeat, served as a wake-up call.
The score of 13-1 suggests that the team encountered adversity but also highlights crucial learning opportunities.
Overcoming this setback in the second game, resulting in an 8-5 victory signifies a commendable bounce-back attitude that can be pivotal as the season progresses.
Given the recent performance, several factors contribute to the Hawks’ success.
The contributions of Jace Taylor and Evan Shanley epitomize a solid pitching foundation.
Taylor’s ability to maintain composure over five innings, yielding only two earned runs, partnered with Shanley’s flawless two-inning appearance, establishes a formidable one-two punch for Lakeland.
“I’m just trying to help my team out,” Shanley said, “It’s more of the fact that we need not to give up even if we are down. We have to keep playing.”
Their consistency not only limits the scoring opportunities for opponents but also instills confidence in their teammates.
The diverse scoring capabilities in the second game, with multiple players contributing significantly, suggest a well-rounded batting order.
Each player taking responsibility at bat, such as Cash Lund’s and Hunter Averitt’s impressive performances, indicates that the team is beginning to function as a cohesive unit offensively and defensively.
“I feel like I could have done better, but I am proud of how it turned out and how it helped out the team,” Averitt said, “As a defense, we need to communicate and stay calm in times of despair.”
This evolution in their batting strategy will be vital when facing a high-scoring team like Moscow.
The team’s ability to bounce back from an initial loss illustrates a strong mental fortitude. The Hawks’ tenacity is evidenced by their determination to not only improve upon their prior performance but exceed expectations.
It will be critical in maintaining momentum as they prepare for their upcoming challenges.
As the Hawks transition into their match against Moscow, carrying forward the lessons learned from the split with Sandpoint is essential.
The Bears present a formidable challenge, particularly with their average of 7.9 runs per game, suggesting a powerful offensive lineup that must be countered effectively.
The game ended with a season-high team batting average of .424, the potential for offensive breakthroughs.
As the team looks ahead to the match against Moscow on April 12th at Lakeland High School, it remains critical to capitalize on their current form and foster the collaborative spirit that has begun to take root within the roster.
This game could serve as a test of their abilities and an opportunity to further solidify their identity as a competitive force in their league.
