Preps

Three-run blast carries Lecanto to win

LECANTO -- With the score knotted 3-3, Lecanto slugger D.J. Flores had one thing on his mind as he stepped to the plate.

"I was just thinking, 'Get a hit. Get the run in and get the lead,"' Flores said of his third-inning, three-run home run that gave his Panthers a 6-3 victory over Citrus (4-4) on Friday.

With one out in the bottom of the third, senior outfielder Chadd Martin set the stage for Flores' heroics. Martin belted a single and stole second, and senior catcher Mike Bargiel was walked by Citrus' Casey Snyder, putting runners on first and second for Lecanto (4-1).

Citrus brought on left-hander Keith Zigler to face Flores, but it wasn't enough.

"I got a good pitch and I just (smacked) it," Flores said. "It was a fastball outside. I just happened to get a good piece of it."

Flores finished the game 1-for-1 with two walks.

He also sealed the game in the seventh, striking out the side to record the save for starter Jacob McClelland. McClelland scattered four hits over six innings with five strikeouts.

The win was Lecanto's fourth straight and it was an especially sweet win for Flores, a transfer from Citrus last season.

"I just want to strike them all out," he said. "I used to play on their team, they are friends of mine, but I want to win for my team."

Lecanto will take its momentum into today's matchup with Crystal River in an attempt to steal the title as the county's best team from their crosstown rivals.

"Until we beat Crystal River, you are going to be labeled as an underdog," Lecanto coach Brian Donovan said.

SOFTBALL: Despite a strong performance from sophomore pitcher Nikki Pontius, Lecanto could not muster enough offense in a 1-0 loss Friday to East Ridge.

Pontius allowed five hits in seven innings with five strikeouts.

Jenny Mixon picked up the win for East Ridge (7-2). The loss dropped Lecanto to 3-4.

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