Early Homers Propel Jenkins to Win

LAKELAND | George Jenkins didn't get the stellar pitching it did in the semifinals, but thanks to the big bats of Trey Richardson and Brandon Pratt, it didn't matter.

Richardson's three-run homer and Pratt's grand slam allowed the Eagles to escape with a 9-6 victory over Winter Haven Thursday night in the Class 5A, District 8 championship game.

The victory made George Jenkins 6-for-6 in district championships for the spring sports this year.

George Jenkins will play at home against Daytona Beach Seabreeze Tuesday in the regional quarterfinals, while Winter Haven travels to Winter Park to play Lake Howell.

George Jenkins escaped with the victory as Winter Haven rallied for four runs in the sixth and had more opportunities to score than Jenkins. Winter Haven left 10 runners on base, eight times with runners in scoring position.

''We knew they were going to make a run,'' George Jenkins coach Tom Patton said. ''We knew it would happen. We were hoping to get through it and make one defensive play to make sure they stayed down.''

George Jenkins took a 4-1 lead in the first on Kyle Newton's RBI double followed by Richardson's three-run homer.

Pratt's grand slam in the third put Jenkins up 9-2.

Joe Rogers replaced starter Colin Richardson after the home run and shut down the Eagles the rest of the game.

He had the best night of any of the four pitchers, two for each team, in the game.

He pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and and did not allow a hit. He walked two batters and two more reached on errors.

Jenkins pitchers allowed 11 hits, walked seven batters and hit one batter.

Austin Johnson's two-run single and L.B. Dantlzer's RBI single were the big hits in Winter Haven's four-run sixth.

''We didn't play too well,'' Winter Haven coach David Saliba said. ''We left a lot of opportunities. We just didn't play well until the fourth or fifth inning.

"We didn't quit. The damage was done.''