Park Vista Eliminates Lakeland, 9-4

SARASOTA | Lake Worth Park Vista jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and was able to hold off Lakeland High's comeback attempts Friday to eliminate the Dreadnaughts, 9-4, in the FHSAA Class 6A baseball semifinals at Ed Smith Stadium.

Twice Lakeland mounted rallies, cutting a 4-0 lead to 4-2 on RBI singles by Daniel Rockhold and Drew Hutchison.

After Park Vista pushed its lead to 7-2, the Dreadnaughts cut it to 7-4 in the fifth when Erik Barber beat out an infield single to drive in Keon Broxton who had walked. Taylor Wrenn, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a wild pitch.

Park Vista, however, pushed its lead back up to 9-4 in the top of the seventh on a two-run double by Bryan Flynn.

Lakeland closes out its season with a 24-10 record. Park Vista advances to Saturday's Class 6A championship game at 7 p.m., against the Miami Goleman-Lake Brantley winner.