Lake City baseball off to good start despite massive losses

            Lake City – Lake City High School lost seven seniors, all of them starters, from a baseball team that won the Region 6-AAA title last season and finished with an 18-8 record. Despite the massive turnover, the Panthers were more than holding their own this season. They won five of their first eight games while starting 3-1 in region play.

          Needless to say, head coach Matt Apicella is more than pleased with what he has seen from a very young squad.

          “We are playing one senior, two juniors, six sophomores, two freshmen, and a seventh-grader, so we have been up and down as expected, but I am satisfied with their progress and work ethic every day,” Apicella said. “If a dog is going to bite, he will bite as a pup.”

         The lone returning starters are juniors Blayne Edwards and Torrance Wilson. Edwards plays shortstop and pitches while Wilson plays the outfield.

         The only senior on the team is catcher Aidan Bright. Those three are the team leaders, according to Apicella.

        “They have accepted leadership roles and are making sure the pups stay within the framework of the program and emphasize expectations,” Apicella said.

         Junior third baseman Amari Hanna and sophomore first baseman AJ McDougal were leading LCHS in hitting. Hanna, the leadoff hitter, had an even .500 batting average with two triples and five stolen bases. The left-handed swinging McDougal was batting .375 in the cleanup slot.

        Sophomore third baseman/designated hitter Luke Strickland led the team in runs batted in with seven, while Edwards had five. Edwards, who bats third, also led in stolen bases with 12, while freshman second baseman Mason Sims had 10.

       Wilson had the team’s only home run. Playing alongside Wilson in the outfield are sophomore Shakeem Epps, freshman David Singletary, freshman Anthony White, sophomore Jermaine Pickett and sophomore Quez Witherspoon.

      The seventh-grader is Jase Edwards, a middle infielder called up from the junior varsity.

      Blayne Edwards and Sims are the only returning pitchers from last season. Edwards is the No. 1 starter, while Sims is vying for the No. 2 spot with Hanna and Hunter Antwine.

     “Blayne Edwards is the most consistent and reliable starter,” Apicella said. “Amari Hanna, Hunter Antwine and Cristian Sims are all battling for that No.2 spot. We are trying to find the most reliable No. 2 starter to give us the best chance for success.”

     Edwards and Antwine both had two wins. Edwards had worked a team high 18 1/3 innings and had 19 strikeouts with a 1.19 earned run average. Antwine had worked 12 innings with nine Ks, while Hanna had 10 strikeouts and a 2.62 ERA.

    McDougal and Strickland are also seeing some mound time.