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Palma Ceia traveled two hours to Deltona and pounded the competition at the state tournament before pulling out a 5-4 victory in the championship game Tuesday. But if it wants to claim the South regional championship, the Junior baseball team will have to be a road warrior.
The team begins its 500-mile journey to Cartersville, Ga., for regionals Friday to get ready for a game Saturday. Cartersville is the defending World Series champion in the Junior division.
Palma Ceia's trademark has been crushing opposing pitching. The squad overpowered opponents 50-10 in the first four games of the state tournament, breezed through the Section 7 competition by a 32-9 margin in two games and outscored foes in the District 6 tournament 53-23.
The team gets its power from multiple sources. Shane Scanlon homered three times in four games in districts and drove in four runs against Palm Harbor in the sectional championship game, a 16-7 win. Michael Lashbrook connected for a home run in an 18-0 win during pool play and again in the title game against Ocoee.
But Palma Ceia's pitchers have done their fair share. When Northside pushed Palma Ceia to extra innings in districts, Lashbrook came on in relief and allowed one unearned run in five innings, finally getting the win in the 10th.
Scanlon and two relievers combined on a one-hitter Sunday. Kevin Krebs allowed a run to Ocoee in four innings, and Peto Kirkwood closed the game with two scoreless innings, protecting the one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh.