Lake Wales falls to Deltona in 4A state title game

CLERMONT — Lake Wales' magical season didn't end as the Highlanders would have liked, but they didn't go down without a fight. The Highlanders scored a run in three consecutive innings, threatened in more innings but in the end, an early four-run deficit was too much too overcome.

Deltona hung on for a 6-3 victory on Friday in the championship game of the 2022 FHSAA Class 4A Softball State Championship at Legends Way Ballfields.

Lake Wales is now 2-4 in state championship games in its eight trips to the state tournament.

"It meant a lot that we were able to make it to the title game," senior Lexi Thomas said. "Win or lose, you played the most games you possibly could."

It was Thomas' second time at a state event this school year, and this meant a little more.

"I'm glad I got to experience it with the team and not just by myself," said Thomas, who won a second-place and a third-place medal at the girls weightlifting state meet in earlier this year. "I really enjoyed having a family."

The start of the game was delayed nearly two hours because of an afternoon downpour, and there was a light rain in the bottom of the first inning as the Wolves got off to a quick start.

With one out, Sophie Strempel singled. She then advanced on a wild pitch and went around to third base. Catcher Keira Morris' throw was off target, and Strempel scored to make it 1-0.

Lake Wales starter Macey Murphy struck out the batter for the second out but then allowed a walk and a single.

Adrianna Stump then hit a hard grounder in the hole between third and short. Shortstop Zamya McBurrows went to the ground to make a backhanded stop, but her throw from her knees was off target and courtesy runner Zoe Cleveland scored.

Lake Wales got a run back in the second when Morris led off with a walk and scored on Kylie Granger's triple.

Granger, however, was left stranded at third.

Katelyn Sarvis, Veronica Puckett and Strempel all hit triples in the second inning as Deltona scored three times to take a 5-1 lead.

With two outs in the inning, Settle brought in freshman Anna Conroy to replace Murphy. Conroy kept Lake Wales in the game by allowing just one run in 4 2/3 innings.

"Macey got us all the way here," Settle said. "She was tired, and Anna came in and pitched well."

Lake Wales' defense also kept the Highlanders in the game as Morris threw out two runners trying to steal second.

Trailing by four runs, Lake Wales was determined to fight back.

"You just want to get a hit, you just want to get on base," Lake Wales third baseman Lydia Denton said. "We always stayed up, we were always cheering and yelling for each other. It was pretty much just make anything happen."

Settle expected as much.

"This team doesn't give up," he said. "I'm very proud of the effort that everybody gave."

Lake Wales kept trying to chip away at Deltona's lead. McBurrows led off the third with a triple and scored on Sydnie Whitaker's infield groundout.

In the fourth, Morris led off with a single. With two outs, Lilah Denton singled to put runners on first and third. Courtesy runner Kirsten McRae then scored on an error with Lilah Denton advancing to second but was left stranded.

Lake Wales was a bit unlucky in the fourth inning. Deltona had runners on first and third with one out when Strempel hit a line drive to McBurrows, who made the catch then threw to first for an apparent inning-ending double play.

However, the umpire ruled that the runner on first left early. She was called out, but the play was dead, and Strempel had new life. She then hit an RBI single to for a 6-3 lead.

Lake Wales still tried to fight back.

Whitaker and Presley Smith singled to lead off the fifth and were sacrificed to second and third by Thomas.

After a strikeout, Lydia Denton walked to load the bases but Granger grounded out to first to end the inning.

McBurrows and Whitaker drew two-out walks in the sixth, but Smith's line drive to center was caught for the final out.

Lydia Denton doubled with two outs in the seventh but was left stranded. For the game, Lake wales left nine runners on base.

"We fought," Settle said. "They (Highlanders) got down early, but they never gave up. We had a couple of chances late in the game, we just didn't get a timely hit."

Roy Fuoco can be reached at roy.fuoco@theledger.com or at 863-802-7526. Follow him on Twitter: @RoyFuoco.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Wales falls to Deltona in 4A state title game